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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WMSTI«,N.Y.  14SM 

(716)  •73-4S03 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Hittorical  Microraproductions 


Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


1 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 
D 


D 


□ 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

□    Coloured  inlt  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noirel 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  at/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombra  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  aJoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicolories,  tachet6es  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Qualiti  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  A  nouveau  de  faqon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


r 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

1 

1 

v/ 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

ails 

du 

idifier 

une 

nage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grflce  A  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6x6  reproduitev  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  orlginaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  filmis  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
orlginaux  sont  film^s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
-  fhichever  applies. 

Mapv.      Qtes,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
difference  redu.-^tion  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  tho  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
derniire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  A  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


rrata 
o 


selure. 
Id 


/• 


□ 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

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5 

6 

THE  WHISPERING  LEAVES 
OF  PALESTINE. 


By  REV.  A.  W.  LEWIS,  B.  A.,  B.  D. 

MISSIONARY  AMO.IG  THM  CREB  INDIANS  OP  MISTAWAStS  I.  RFAERVE 


J 


FLEMING    H.    REVELL  COMPANY, 

Nbw  York.  Chicago.  Toronv^ 

PublUhtrt  9f  Evangtlieal  Literaturt. 


ENTKKKD-accordins  to  the  Act  of  the  Parliament  of  Cana^.  !"»»«. 
year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nincty^-.ve.  by  A.  W.  Lewis, 
Halifax,  in  the  Office  of  the  Minister  of  Agriculture,  at  Ottawa. 


DEDICATED 

TO  THE 

GOD  OF  NATURE 

AND  OF 

REVELATION. 


»^ 


PREFACE. 


The  author's  aim  is  not  to  give  a  scientific 
account  of  the  vegetation  spoken  of  in  the  Bible, 
but  it  is  to  speak  briefly  of  some  specimens  and 
read  the  lessons  to  be  learned.  For  the  scien- 
tific portions  I  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to 
the  Bible  (the  Revised  Version).  Encyclopaedia 
Britannica,  Gesenius  Hebrew  Lexicon,  Robin- 
son's Greek  Lexicon,  and  to  the  following 
writers:  W.  H.  Groser,  Cnnon  Tristam,  Captain 
Coiider,  Rev.  Selah  Merrill.  D.  D.,  Lawrence 
Oliphant,  Dr.  Geikie,  Dr.  Thomson,  Archd. 
French.  In  the  interpretation  of  facts  I  have 
striven  to  be  as  original  as  possible  and  to  write 
nothing  except  in  a  prayerful  spirit.  Trees, 
herbs  and  flowers  have  all  been  arranged  in 
alphabetical  order  to  facilitate  reference  without 
index.  If  my  feebh^  efforts,  amid  the  multiform 
and  distracting  cares  incident  to  my  work,  shall 
make  the  Bible  mure  real  and  its  truths  more 
helpful,  I  shall  be  grateful  to  Him  who  made 
the  leaves  and  gave  them  their  sweet  voices. 

5 


r" 


ii 


«To  him  who  in  the  love  of  natnrc  holds 

Communion  with  her  visible  forms,  eho  bpcalis 

A.  various  language:  for  his  gayer  hours 

She  has  a  voice  of  gladness,  and  a  smile 

And  eloquence  of  beauty ;  and  she  glides 

Into  his  darker  musings  with  a  mild 

And  healing  sympathy  that  steals  away 

Their  sharpness  ere  he  is  aware." 

Thanatopsia—Bryant. 


INTRODUCTION. 


•*  We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf."     Is.  64:  6. 

*^  Blessed  is  the  man  that  trtisteth  in  the  Lord,  and  whose 
hope  (he  Lord  is.  For  he  shall  be  as  a  tree  planted  by 
the  waters,  and  that  spreadeth  out  his  roots  by  the  river^ 
and  shall  not  fear  when  heat  cometh,  but  his  leaf  shall 
t>e  {frccn ;  a>ul  shall  not  be  careful  in  (he  year  of 
drought,  neither  shall  cease  from  yielding  frvit." 

Jer.  17 :  7,  H. 

'*/  will  send  a  faintness  into  their  heart  in  the  lands  of 
(heir  enemies:  and  (he  sound  of  a  driven  leaf  shall 
chase  them.'"     Lev.  26:36. 

"  Will  thou  harass  a  driven  leaf?"     Job.  13:  25. 

*'•  Blessed  is  the  man  .  ,  .  whase  leaf  also  doth  not  wither; 
iiiid  vhaftioever  h,'  doeth  shall  prosper."     Ps.  1 :  3. 

"^1/u/  lie  showed  nie  a  river  uf  ivater  of  life,  bright  as  crys- 
tal, proceeding  out  of  the  Throne  of  God  and  of  the 
Lamb,  in  the  midst  of  the  street  thereof.  And  on  Ihiti 
side  of  the  river  and  on  that  was  the  tree  of  life,  bear- 
ing twelve  manner  of  fmits,  yielding  its  fruit  every 
month:  and  the  leaves  of  the  tree  were  for  the  healing 
of  the  nations."      Rev.  22:  1,  2. 

My  aim  is  to  (tpphj  these  healing  leaves. 
Hearts  ache.  There  is  a  •*  halm  in  Gilead"  for 
all  kinds  of  aches.  Mi  nils  whirl  like  the  leaf  in 
the  blast.  A  calmness  steals  into  them  when 
they  listen  to  the  whispering  of  the  healing 
leaves.  The  compass  when  surrounded  by  iron 
is  frantic  with  distracting  influences.     So  is  the 


MH 


INTRODUCTION 


hnman  soul  in  the  world.  Insulaiion  from  this 
alone  brings  rest.  Then  the  needle  points  to 
the  north  and  is  still.  The  healing  leaves  have 
a  wondrous  power.  In  them  God  says  "  Be 
still  and  know  that  I  am  God."  Distracting^  in- 
fluences  are  destroyed,  while  the  power  still 
remains.  So  Christians  while  in  the  world 
should  not  be  of  the  world.  **  Be  not  coiiformed^ 
but  be  ye  transformed.'''*  There  is  a  disease 
eating  into  every  soul  bom  of  Adam's  race.  No 
reformation  can  eradicate  sin.  The  end  is 
death.  Jesus  died  to  plant  in  the  world  the 
'•Tree  of  Life  whose  leaves  arc  for  the  healing  of 
the  nations."  These  leaves  are  more  effectual 
even  than  the  figs  of  Hezekiah:  They  give  to 
the  soul  life  not  for  fifteen  years  but  for  cfrrnnl 
ages.  They  are  the  true  elixir  of  life.  They 
give  eternal  youth.  They  change  the  woes  of 
life  into  joys;  the  crosses,  into  crowns;  death, 
into  life. 

The  leaves  do  not  speak  with  the  voice  either 
of  thunder  or  the  roaring  cataract,  but  they 
ichisper.  The  "still  small  voice"  that  gives  life 
and  peace  is  theirs.  I  wish  to  take  each  of  you 
to  the  different  leaves  of  God's  garden  in  Pales- 
tine to  listen  with  me  to  their  whispers.  "He 
that  hath  ears  to  hear,  lot  him  hear."    The 


INTRODUCTION 


natural  ear  is  deaf  to  God's  voice  either  in  the 
Bible  or  in  nature.  It  is  the  same  voice  in  both. 
Ask  God  therefore  to  unstop  your  ears — to  give 
you  a  heaving  ear  and  an  understanding  heart. 
O  Holy  One,  open  thou  our  ears  that  we  may 
hear  wondrous  things  from  Thy  vegetable  king- 
dom. Interi)ret  Thou  its  universal  language  to 
our  finite  understandings. 

Just  as  we  can  see  "the  foot-prints  of  the 
Creator"  in  the  rocks,  so  in  the  lovely  vegetation 
that  clothes  the  earth  we  cnn  see  the  finger 
marks  of  a  wise  and  loving  God.  An  amateur 
strove  in  vain  to  put  his  ccmception  on  canvas. 
In  his  absence  his  master  came  and  with  a  few 
strokes  realized  tlie  ideal.  When  the  amati'ur 
returned  he  at  once  exclaimed  "The  Master  has 
been  here."  Tlidse  with  any  soul  for  things 
divine  cannot  study  nature  without  exclaiming 
"The  Master  has  been  here."  The  united  voice 
of  tree  and  shrub  and  flower,  from  th(^  lordly 
cedar  of  Lebanon  to  the  humble  grass  blade, 
forms  a  "Hallelujah  Chorus:" 

"The  nuiul  that  mado  u.s  ift  divint;." 

One  can  now  go  from  Joppa  to  Jerusalem 
without  the  tent,  the  mules,  the  dragoman. 
The  whistle  of  the  iron  horse  is  at  last  heard 
even  in  this  land  of  unprogressive  poverty.    The 


10 


INTRODUCTION 


I 


modern  conveyance  has  many  advantages;  but 
what  is  gained  in  ctmfort  may  be  lost  in  knowl- 
edge. As  one  is  hurried  along,  little  is  seen 
bat  the  bare  chalk  hills.  It  is  natural  to  ex- 
claim: How  could  this  bo  called  "a  land  flow- 
ing with  milk  and  honey?"  It  Reems  fit  only 
for  goats.  It  is  a  sad  picture.  The  neglect  of 
centuries  and  the  ravages  of  war  have  made 
fearful  havoc.  Tlie  terraces  of  those  fertile 
hills  have  tumbled  down  and  the  scanty  soil  has 
been  washed  away.  Tlie  single  trees  and  small 
groups  are  merely  the  vestiges  of  former  glory. 
The  vines  which  once  covered  the  fruitful  hills 
were  unsupported  and  their  roots  left  bare  to 
the  sun.  Farther  sonih  there  is  more  fertile 
soil  in  the  valleys,  and  the  hills  are  mantled 
with  evergreen  oak,  arbutus,  and  pine  trees. 
Canon  Tristam  says:  "A  walk  up  the  valley  of 
Eslicol,  once  renowned  for  the  grapes,  reveals 
to  us  what  Judea  was  everywhere  else  in  the 
days  of  its  prosperity.  Bare  and  stony  as  are 
the  hill^sides,  not  an  inch  of  space  is  lost.  Ter- 
races where  the  ground  is  not  too  rocky,  support 
the  soil;  ancient  villages  cling  to  the  lower 
slopes;  olive,  mulberry,  almond,  fig  and  ponu - 
granate  trees  fill  every  available  cranny  to  the 
very  crest;  while  the  bottom  of  tho  valley  is 


INTRODUCTION 


11 


carefully  tilled  ior  cress,  carrots,  and  cauli- 
flowers, which  will  Boon  give  place  to  melons 
and  cucumbers.  That  catacomb  of  perished 
cities,  the  *hill  country  of  Judah"  is  all  explained 
by  a  walk  up  the  vale  of  Eshcol." 

Away  north  of  the  railway  rise  the  hills  o 
Samaria  There  the  olive  tree  fl(*urishes.  Its 
valleys  are  rich  and  well  watered.  The  valley 
of  Shechem  is  thus  described  ])y  Cnptain  Cou- 
der:  "Lonjjj  rivulets,  fed  by  no  less  than  eiuhty 
springs,  run  down  the  slope  and  murmur  in  the 
deep  ravines;  gardens  surround  tlie  city  walls; 
figs,  walnuts,  mulberries,  oranges,  lemons,  cjlives, 
pomegranates,  vines,  plums,  and  every  species 
of  vegetable  grow  in  abundance,  and  the  green 
foliage  and  sparkling  streams  refrcsli  the  eye.'' 

North  of  Samaria  lies  the  welhwatered  Gali- 
lee. Dr.  Merrill  says:  "Most  travellers  in  Gali- 
lee, and  those  writers  who  have  studied  its 
physical  characteristics  represent  it  as  being  of 
great  natural  fertility  and  beauty,  remark ii)ly 
diversified  ])y  mountain  and  hill,  valley  ami 
plain,  springs,  rivers,  and  lakes,  while  the  eli- 
mate  is  the  'nearest  possible  approach  to  a  per- 
petual sin'ing.'  "  Josephus,  the  Greek  historian 
who  was  gtjvernor  of  this  province  und  thus  well 
acquainted  with  it,  says:  "It  is  throughout  rich 


y-rr-^.'-".-'- 


12 


INTRODUCTION 


in  soil  and  pasturage,  producing  every  variety 
of  tree  and  inviting  by  its  productiveness  even 
those  who  have  the  least  inclination  for  agricul- 
ture; for  it  is  everywhere  tilled,  no  part  being 
allowed  to  lie  idle  and  everywhere  productive." 
Of  the  plain  of  Genesareth  he  says:  "One  might 
style  this  an  ambitious  effort  of  nature,  doing 
violence  to  herself  in  bringing  together  plants 
of  discordant  habits,  and  an  admirable  rivalry 
of  the  seasons,  each,  as  it  were,  asserting  her 
rijj^ht  to  the  soil."  At  present  this  district  pro- 
duct's orange,  cherry,  pear,  apricot,  sugarcane, 
indigo,  rice,  i)ulse,  wheat,  barley,  millet,  mul- 
berry and  various  other  grains  and  fruits.  The 
valley  of  Esdriehjn  is  a  veritable  garden. 

The  depressed  valley  of  the  Jordan  affords 
the  luxuriant  vegetation  of  a  tropical  climate. 
Going  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho  is  like  going 
from  Jeiusulem  to  India,  as  regards  climate. 
There  the  date  palm  flourishes  and  the  acacia. 
A  few  miles  from  here  the  snow-capped  Lebanon 
gives  us  the  plants  of  the  distant  north.  The 
land  of  Gilead,  on  the  east  of  the  Jordan,  pro- 
ducers in  great  luxuriance  the  vegetation  of  the 
rest  of  Palestine.  Mr.  Lawrence  Oliphrnt 
paints  it  in  glowing  colors:  "The  traveller  who 
only  knows  Palestine  to  the  west  of  the  Jordan 


INTRODUCTION 


18 


can  form  no  idea  of  the  luxuriance  of  the  hill- 
sides of  Gilead  .  .  .  seldom  disturbed  by 
the  foot  of  man." 

The  "Globe  Trotter"  as  he  j^lides  smoothly 
along  on  the  road  of  steel  from  Jopi)a  to  Jerusa- 
lem sees  little  of  the  Holy  Land  nnd  knows  less. 
The  variety  and  abundance  of  its  flowers  and 
fruits,  its  plants  and  trees  afforded  the  sacred 
writers  an  almost  unparalleled  treasury  for  illus- 
trating divine  truth.  Preeminently  at  the  be- 
f^inning  of  our  Christian  era  Palestine  was  a 
Garden  of  the  Lord.  "Awake,  O  north  wind; 
and  come  thou  south;  blow  upon  my  garden,  that 
the  spices  thereof  may  flow  out."  (Song  of 
Songs  4:  16.) 


Ill  III  IIIIIIIII>IIIW» 


II 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF 
PALESTINE. 


Algum  or  Almug. 


**And  the  navy  also  of  Hiram,  that  brought  gold  from  Ophlr^ 
brought  in  from  Ophir  great  plenty  of  *  ALMUG  trees 
and  precious  stones.  And  the  king  made  of  the  ALMUO 
trees  pillars  for  the  ?iouse  of  the  Lord,  and  for  the 
king''s  house,  harps  also  and  psalteries  for  the  singer.^: 
there  came  no  such  ALMUO  trees,  nor  were  seen,  v.nto 
this  day."  T  Kings  10: 11, 12. 

Gesenius,  the  eminent  lexicographer,  sayy, 
"xVlmug  trees,  a  kind  of  precious  woocL  It 
seems  to  correspond  to  the  Sanscrit  micata,  etc, 
red  sandal  wood,  still  used  in  India  and  Persia 
for  costly  utensils  and  instruments.  Or  it  nir.y 
be  compared  to  the  Malabar  word  malajaga,  a 
name  of  the  same  wood:  So  Hoffman." 

"  It  is  probably  the  red  sandal  wood  of  India, 
(Pterocarpus  Santalinus).  This  tree  belongs 
to  the  natural  order  Leguminosae,  suborder  pap- 
ilionaceae."  Britannica. 

This  precious  wood  is  only  mentioned  in  the 
Bible  in  connection  with  the  building  of  the 
temple  of  Solomon.    How  often  we  see  this  h.id- 


^Marginal  reading.    "  II  Chron.  alRum,  perhaps  .fa«^rt/ wood." 

15 


il 


fi; 


'.     1 


lf5 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


iiig  of  gems  in  the  Bible  and  in  modern  life! 
Many  who  are  very  precious  in  God's  sight  and 
in  the  sight  of  them  that  come  in  contact  with 
them  are  hnidly  known  outside  a  very  limited 
neighborhood.  It  is  not  always  those  who  talk 
most  and  who  make  the  greatest  stir  in  the  world 
that  will  be  honored  most  when  God  comes  to 
reward  His  servants.  The  humble  but  zealous 
child  of  God  will  be  a  pillar  in  the  temple  of 
heaven,  while  many  men  of  world-wide  fame 
shall  not  even  be  a  stone  in  its  floor.  The  widow 
with  the  two  mites  was  rescued  from  oblivion  by 
the  quick  eye  of  Jesus.  The  woman  accused  of 
wasting  the  ointment  was  commended  for  her 
love  by  the  Son  of  God — "  She  hath  done  what 
she  could  ....  and  verily  I  say  unto  you, 
Wheresoever  the  Gospel  shall  be  preached 
throughout  the  whole  world,  that  also  which  this 
woman  hath  done  shall  be  spoken  of  for  a  memor- 
ial of  her."  (Mark  14:  8,  9).  Surely  the  poor- 
est can  pour  cut  his  love  upon  Jesus  and  upon 
His  representatives  (all  Christians)  now  on 
earth.  It  is  not  so  much  what  we  do  as  with 
what  motive  we  do  it. 

"  The  sandal  wood  is  hard,  heavy,  clobegrain- 
ed,  and  of  a  fine  red  color" — Brit.  It  was  there* 
fore  strong,  beautiful  and  enduring.      Can  the 


I    \ 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE       17 


King  of  Heaven  depend  upon  us?  Are  we  al- 
ways true  to  Him?  Is  our  life  " closegrained  " 
with  good  acts  and  loving  words?  Strive  to  at- 
tain this,  if  you  wish  to  bo  an  ahnug  pillar  in 
His  temple.  Are  we  ** harps  and  psalteries" 
upon  which  the  singers  of  God's  praise  play 
their  accompaniments? 

Oh!  to  lie  nt  His  feet 

As  hnrjis  of  melodious  praise, 

By  His  grac.)  made  meet 

For  the  songs  the  Redeemed  should  raise. 

Almond. 

^^  And  it  came  to'pm^s  on  the  morrow,  that  Moses  went  into 
the  tent  of  the,  trutimomj;  and,  beliold,  the  rod  of  Aaron 
for  the  house  of  Levi  teas  l)udded,  and  put  forth  buds, 
and  bloomed  blossoms,  and  bare  ripe  ALMONDS.''^  Num. 
17:  8. 

The  almond  is  Amigdalns  Communis  of  the 
Natural  Order  Rosaceae,  suborder,  Amigdaleae 
or  drupifera.  The  Hebrew  name  "Shaked" 
means  "the  waker,  so  called  because  it  is  the 
earliest  of  all  trei^s  to  wake  from  the  sleep  of 
winter."  Gesenius.  Its  connection  in  Jer.  1: 
11,  12  seems  to  imply  the  idea  of  iccdching, — 
"Jeremiah,  what  seest  thou?  And  I  said,  I  see 
the  rod  of  an  almond  ivoc.  Tlu^n  said  the  Lord 
unto  me  *  Thou  hast  well  Hecn:  for  I  toatch  over 
my  word  to  perform  ii.'  *'  The  word  used  for 
almond  tree  is  "shdkmV^  for  "watch  oyer"  is  aho^ 


[I 


18 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


ked.      Britnnnica  says,  "  sliaked,"  means  "  to 
hasten."      It  was  applied  to  the  almond  because 
it  bloomed  first,  just  as  we  have  a  "  mayflower" 
that  blooms  in  May.    Thus  in  Eccl.  12:  5  it  would 
refer  to  the  hcisicning  of  old  age.     Dr.  Geikie 
speaks   of  "the  glory   of   its  white  blossoms" 
.    .     .     "rising  like  a  s7ioivy  cloud  above  the 
cactus    hedges."       However    Canon    Tristam 
says,     *'The  blossom  of  the  almond     is   very 
pale    j9/»A',    but    where,    as    in    the    orchards 
near  Nablous   (Shechem)   the   peach  and   the 
almond    trees    are    intermingled    the    almond 
looks  white  by   comparison."      Gesenius  says 
"The  blossom  is  not  white  but   rosecolored." 
Britannica  says,   "pink."      Another  authority 
says  "The  almond  seems  white  in  the  distance; 
and  the  bare  liml)s  when  in  blossom  remind  oiie 
of  the  withered  limbs  of  the  aged."      Gesenius 
renders  the  passage  "The  almond  (nut)  shall 
be  spurned"  because  the  toothless  old  man  can- 
not eat  them.     Perhaps  the  best  English  equiv- 
alent of  "s/<a^'edf"  is  as  Gesenius  "thewaker.' 
The  almond's  brothers  and  sisters  are  rose,  ap- 
ple, cherry,  etr.  '  These  are  all  of  one  family 
The  Jews  still  carry  branches  of  almond  blos- 
soms to  the  synagogues  on  their  festival  day. 
The  almond  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite 


TrniSPERINQ  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE        19 


Jacob  sent  nuts  of  the  almond  amonpf  the  choice 
presents  given  to  Joseph,  the  still  unrecognised 
ruler  of  Egypt.     (Gen.  43:  11).    By  divine  di- 
rection the  blossoms  were  models  for  the  cups  of 
the  golden  candlestick  in  the  Tabernacle.     (Ex. 
25: 33).    We  too  ought  to  l)e  models  and  worthy 
to  stand  before  kings.    Sometimes  we  forget  that 
we  are  regarded  as  representatives  of  Christ  and 
y:e  make  "  sad  work  "  of  it.    The  World  says  *'  See 
that  man.     He  says  he  is  a  Christian.     Look  at 
his  life; — How  stingy,  how  underhand;  how 
grasping!    If  he  is  the  Christian  model,  I  want 
none  of  it.     See  that  woman!    A  slave  of  fash- 
ion, making  gods  of  her  bonnets  and  dresses  and 
gloves!    She  thinks  more  of  these  than  of  the 
God  of  Heaven.     I  despise  such  a  religion." 
These  are  samples  of  remarks  made  every  day 
by  thousands.    There  is  nothing  that  hinders 
the  work  of  Christ  in  the  world  so  much  as  the 
inconsistency  of  Christians.      They  say  they 
have  given  their  hearts  to  the  Saviour,  l)ut  in- 
stead, they  are  full  of  the  world.    The  world  ex- 
pects Christians  to  be  models.    Christ  expects 
Christians  to  be  models.     "  Ye  therefore  Rliall 
be  perfect,  as  your  Heavenly  Father  is  perfect." 
(Matt.  5:48.) 
*' The  tree  is  of  modcvatv  t5i?,e,"    Wo  do  not 


30 


WHISrERINQ  LEAVFS  OP  PALESTINE 


need  to  be  big  in  order  to  be  models.  Nor  do 
we  have  to  be  small.  The  most  of  us  are  just 
of  moderate  size.  Comparatively  only  a  few 
men  are  "head  and  shoulders"  above  others 
It  is  a  great  comfort  for  us  of  moderate  size  to 
know  that  the  almond  so  used  of  God  was  no 
giant  among  the  trees.  You  and  I  can  be  al- 
mond Christians.  Let  us  strive  by  God's  grace 
to  be  so  nearly  j^erfect  that  no  one  will  receive 
harm  l)y  regarding  us  as  models. 

The  almond  is  a  "  drupe."  This  name  is  ap- 
plied by  botanists  to  a  peculiar  form  of  fruit 
such  as  the  peach,  plum,  cherry.  It  has  "  a  downy 
outer  coat,  called  the  epicarp  (like  the  down  on 
the  peach),  covering  a  tough  jjortion  called  me- 
socarp  (not  tough  in  the  peach  but  fleshy  —  the 
part  eaten),  which  encloses  the  reticulated  hard 
stony  shell  or  endocarp  ( corresponding  to  the 
peach  sfoue.)  The  seed  is  the  kernel  which  is 
contained  within  these  coverings.  (Like  'the 
meat;  of  the  peach  stone. )" — (Brit,  except  the 
parantheses.)  A  child  of  God  needs  protecting 
from  evil  men  and  from  th«^  Devil  who  likes  to 
destroy  the  kernel  of  good  Before  we  open 
our  heart  to  a  person  we  ought  to  know  tliem 
thoroughly  or  our  trust  mat/  bo  betrayed.  This 
becoming  reserve  is  tlio  coveiiug  of  t)ie  korHelf? 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       21 


to 
)en 

11  elf) 


of  our  hearts.  There  ought  to  be  the  downy 
exterior  of  courtesy  and  kindness,  shown  to  all. 
Then  comes  the  tough  mesocarp  of  nearer  ac- 
(jnaintanceship  which  ought  to  test  the  sincerity 
of  a  friend.  The  shelldike  endocarp  hides  ex- 
cept from  a  chosen  few  the  holy  thoughts  and 
aspirations  of  the  heart.  The  kernel  is  the  best 
part  of  the  almond;  so  the  heart  of  every  child 
of  God  and  his  inner  life  ought  to  Ije  the  best 
part.  Alas!  Too  often  when  the  silky  down  of 
politeness  gives  promise  of  great  worth  wo  are 
disappointed  at  last  to  find  the  heart  is  false. 
The  most  gentlemanly  courtesy  may  be  the  ex- 
terior of  a  hypocrite.  Not  so  the  almond  Chris- 
ti.'in. 

'•  Fresh  sweet  almonds  are  nutritive  and  de- 
mulcent."' Both  kinds  contain  emulsine  which 
is  valuable  as  an  aid  to  digestion.  They  are  re- 
commended hy  doctors  for  indigestion,  to  1)0 
taken  sparingly  after  meals.  It  does  one  good 
to  associate  with  an  almond  Christijin.  It  great- 
ly aids  spiritual  life.  Truths  are  put  in  their 
proper  state  and  are  digested.     Does  our  life 


22 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALE!5TINE 


exort  a  helpful  influence  over  all  our  acquaint- 
ances? 

The  rod  of  Aaron  pat  forth  buds 
And  bnre  its  fruit  mature: 
May  God  help  us  to  bud  and  bloom 
And  bear  ripe  fruit  and  pare. 

Aloes. 

^' And  there  came  also  Nicodemus.  .  .  .  bringing  a 
mixture  of  myrrh  and  ALOES,  about  a  hundred 
pound  weighty     John  19:  39. 

Aloes  probably  not  native  to  Palestine. 

Anise. 
"  Yc  tithe  mint  and  ANISE  and  Cummin."       Matt.  23:  23. 

"The  anise  of  the  Bible  is  anethum  graveo- 
lens  or  dill. "  (Brit.)  "  It  bclon.f^s  to  umbellife- 
rous order  and  is  not  unlike  fennel,  cjrowin'j: 
from  twelve  to  twenty  inches  or  more  in  liei'^ht, 
with  flat  elliptical  fruits  (popularly  called  'seeds') 
containing  a  valuable  oil.  Both  leaves  and 
fruits  are  eaten  in  the  east  as  condiments." 

The  Pharisees  did  well  in  tithing  the  anise. 
Jesus  says,  "This  ye  ougld  to  have  done;"  but 
He  censures  them  for  neglecting  things  of  greater 
import.  So  the  anise  whispers  Remember  what 
our  Creator  said  about  me  and  do  not  neglect  to 
give  Him  one4enth  of  everything  you  receive. 
If  all  gave  a  tithe  of  their  anise  even,  not  neg- 
lecting greater  sources  of  revenue,  the  treasuries 


il. 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       23 

of  our  churches  would  be  full  awl  missionaries 
would  go  to  heathen  lands  by  the  vho  thousands. 
And  surely  wo  can  spare  one^tenth  to  Him  who 
gives  us  all. 

"  Anise  is  used  to  season  soup  and  pickles." 
"  Variety  is  the  spice  of  life."  Consecration  to 
God  that  touches  the  pocket  and  extracts  at  least 
a  tithe  is  refreshing  spice.  There  is  too  much 
of  insipid  straw  in  our  churches  and  too  little 
savory  anise.  How  many  there  are  that  cannot 
talk  about  Christ  unless  they  use  insipid  plati- 
tudes. One's  own  experience  of  God's  truth 
finds  a  fresh  and  telling  mode  of  expression. 
If  our  hearts  are  full  of  the  anise  of  God's  love, 
our  conversation  will  ho  savory,  our  life  will  be 
refreshing  by  its  unheard  of  acts  of  kindness 
and  endeavors  to  lead  to  Christ.  The  "  volatile 
oil "  of  such  anise  seed  would  be  a  tonic  to 
church  life. 

Apple  Tree. 

*^  As  the  APPLE  tree  among  the  trees  of  the  wood,  so  is  7ny 
beloved  among  the  sons.''^    Song  of  Songs  'J:  3. 

The  apple  tree  is  pyrus  Titahis  of  the  Natural 

Order  Rosaceae,   sub-order  Pomaceae.     Many 

doubt  whether  apple  is  the  proper  rendering  of 

the  Hebrew  word /rrpj:)?<a/?.    Dr.  Thomson,  who 

for  many  years  lived  in  Beirut,  says  of  Askelon, 


fi'i 


ifd 


I  1 

II  i 


24 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


1 


iii 


'ml 

n 
I 

I 


I 


"  Now  the  whole  area  is  planted  over  with  or- 
chards of  various  kinds  of  fruit  which  flourish  on 
the  coast.  It  is  especially  celebrated  for  its 
apples  .  .  .  and  they  would  not  have  dis- 
graced even  an  American  orchard."  Sir  Charles 
Warren  also  says  that  apples  grow  in  this 
vicinity.  A  still  greater  authority,  Dr.  Delitsch, 
believes  the  apple  is  meant,  because  towns  were 
named  after  the  apple,  as  "  apple-town."  From 
this  also  a  descendant  of  Caleb  received  his 
name— Tappuah  (I  Chron.  2:  43).  Dr.  Geikie 
in  his  "  Holy  Land  and  the  Bible  "  say?,  "  My 
friend  at  Gaza  was  invited  to  rent  an  apple 
orchard  and  tells  me  that  the  fruit  is  both  good 
and  plentiful."  The  claims  of  the  orange, 
quince,  and  citron  are  weak.  Dr.  Tristam 
thinks  we  ought  to  read  "apricof,  which  is  per- 
haps, with  the  single  exception  of  the  fig,  the 
most  abundant  fruit  of  the  country.  .  .  . 
Many  times  have  we  pitched  our  tent  in  its 
shade.  .  .  .  There  can  scarcely  be  a  more 
deliciously  perfumed  fruit  than  the  apricot." 
It  well  suits  the  allusion  in  the  Song  of  Songs 
(7:  8)  "and  the  smell  of  thy  breath  like 
appJcsy  The  apple  tree  is  at  present  not  the 
"choice"  among  oilier  fruit  trees,  but  it  is 
certainly  superior  io  the  trees  of  the  wood,  i.  e., 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


not  fruit  betiring.  In  Cyprus  the  ai^ricot  is 
called  the  ''Golden  Apple,"  remiudin!:^  one  of 
Proverbs  (2-"):  11),  "A  word  fitly  spoken  is  like 
apples  of  gold  in  baskets  of  silver."  This  may, 
however,  not  refer  to  apples  looking  like  gold, 
but  to  gold  made  after  the  pattern  of  the  much 
prized  apple.  In  those  days  the  apple  may 
have  been  more  luscious  and  fragrant  than  it  is 
at  present.  At  least  the  apple  is  most  suggest- 
ive and  probably  is  the  fruit  meant  by  tappiKih. 
The  Arabic  word  for  apple  is  very  similar.  It 
is  always  best  to  hold  to  the  old  ideas  until  they 
are  proved  to  be  wrong.  For  Canadians  the 
apple  tree  is  more  appropriate. 

Have  you  eaten  v/ild  crab  apples?  Are  they 
as  delicious  as  Gravensteins?  The  improve- 
ment is  due  to  cnUlrafion,  Some  say,  "  Never 
mind  training  or  educating  Christians.  Aim  at 
conversion  onhj.  As  soon  as  people  are  saved 
let  them  look  out  for  themselves."  Others  act 
upon  this  idea,  though  they  would  not  say  so. 
They  think,  I  have  been  converted  and  I  am 
now  an  apple  tree  in  God's  garden.  But  they 
do  not  daily  strive  to  cultivate  the  Christlike 
spirit.  They  remain  in  their  cvah-apple  state 
— "crabbed."  Dr.  Parkhurst  well  says,  "A  ial- 
ent  for  goodness  has  to  be  acquired  as  much  as 


26 


WIIISPEUINO  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


a  talent  for  trade  or  sculpture;  and  is  reached 
in  either  case  over  a  rough  road  of  rules  and 
prescriptions."  On  the  other  hand  some  take 
no  account  of  the  new  birth.  They  say,  "Edu- 
cate the  heathen.  They  do  not  need  Christian- 
ity." As  well  might  they  say,  "  Cultivate  the 
thistle  and  you  will  get  good  Gravenstein 
apples."  The  worst  specimens  of  humanity  on 
my  Reserve  are  the  best  educated.  The  "  happy 
mean  "  between  these  two  extremes  is  the  truth 
of  God  in  the  Bible  and  in  Nature.  The  new 
birfch  is  the  beginning,  without  which  there  can 
be  nothing  spiritnal.  CaUicaiion  should  fol- 
low. The  aged  Christian  is  the  *'  shock  of 
corn  "  almost  fully  ripe.  Are  you  satisfied  to 
be  n  *'  wild  crab-apple "  Christian,  sour  and 
bitter?  Or  do  you  wish  to  bo  mellow  and  spicy 
with  the  Christian  graces. 

"  The  apple  tree  is  cultivated  in  higher  lati- 
tudes than  any  other  fruit  tree."  Brit.  So  the 
Jesus  religicjn  is  suited  for  higher  latitudes 
than  any  other.  Other  religions  are  more  or 
less  local  and  tribal.  Christianity  is  cosmopol- 
itan. The  Bible  is  tlio  most  wonderful  fruit 
tree  the  world  has  ever  seen.  Its  adaptability 
is    unlimited.      It    suited    humanily   eighteen 


entnries  ago;  and,  while  most  other  books 


get 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       27 

ort  of  date  in  a  few  years,  the  Bible  is  just  as 
fresh  as  if  made  especially  for  the  present  age. 
The  cultured  Japanese  and  the  degraded  Aus- 
tralian, the  aborigines  of  our  own  North  West 
and  the  Queen  of  England,  all  alike  find  the 
Bible  suited  exactly  to  their  needs.  Here  is 
the  maximum  diversity  in  unity.  It  flourishes 
in  every  clime. 

Dr.  Geikie  speaks  of  the  "  Apple  of  Sodom  " 
— "A  very  tropicaldooking  plant.  Its  fruit  is 
like  a  large  smooth  apple  or  orange  and  hangs 
in  clusters  of  three  or  four  together.  When 
ripe  it  is  yellow  and  looks  fair  and  attrai'tivo, 
and  is  soft  to  the  touch,  Irat  if  pressed,  it  bursts 
with  a  crack  and  only  the  broken  shell  and  a 
row  of  small  seeds  in  a  half  open  pod,  with  a 
few  dry  filamoiits,  remain  in  the  hand.''  What 
a  picture  of  the  hypocrite!  How  fair  he  sof?ms! 
So  good  and  courteous!  But  when  tested  he 
proves  hollow  and  lifeless. 

Tho  Lord  forbid  thnt  wo  should   prove 

To  bo  like  Sodom's  pfuile, 
But  planted  by  tho  Lord's  own  hiuid, 

Be  cultured  in  Uis  atyle. 


Ash. 


The  prophetl  Isaiah  (44:14)   speaks  of  07'en 
The  Authorized  Version  renders  it  '*ash;"  but 


r 


28 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


the  Revised  Version,  "the  fir  tree."  Gesenius 
translates  oren  "  the  pine."  Brittannica  says 
"the  Hebrew  word  oren  .  .  .  cannot  refer 
to  an  ash  tree  as  that  is  not  a  native  of  Palestine, 
but  probably  to  the  Syrian  pine  (Pinus  Hale- 
pensis). 

Balm, 
"/s  there  no  BALM  in  GileacW'     Jer.  8 :  ,?2. 

This  bahn  or  balsain  was  produced  by  a  tree 
belonging  to  the  genus  "  Balmsamodendron. 
It  is  probably  ot  the  Jspecies  B.  opobalsamura." 
So  Gesenius.  It  flourished  in  Gilead  east  of  the 
Jordan.  Joseph  us  tells  us  that  it  was  exten- 
sively grown  Jin  the  gardens  of  Jericho.  It 
does  not  now  grow  in  those  regions  but  is  found 
in  Arabia  find  Abyssinia. 

The  balm  was  obtained  by  making  incisions 
in  the  bark  of  the  tree.  Our  spruce  gum  in  a 
like  manner  exudes  from  the  injured  bark. 
The  balm  is  from  wounds  and  for  wounds. 
Loss  and  suffering  reveal  the  graces  of  the 
heart.  The  apples  of  Sodom,  if  injured  collapse 
and  reveal  their  hoUowness  and  poverty.  So 
"  make-believe  "  Christians  cannot  stand  God's 
tests.  The  balsam  tree  when  injurt^d  heals  its 
own  wounds  and  provides  balm  for  others.     The 


WniSrLRTKG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       no 


Christian  whose  heart  has  been  crushed  ])y  sor- 
row is  the  one  best  fitted  to  comfort  bleeding 
hearts.  It  is  from  his  own  wounds  that  tlie 
balm  flows.  In  all  ages  this  balm  has  been 
greatly  esteemed.  There  is  always  great  de- 
mand for  balm  Christians.  The  sweetest  of  all 
balm  is  that  which  flows  from  the  "wounded 
side  "  of  Jesus.     It  this  that  heals  every  pain. 

"Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead?" 
The  .soul  cries  out  iti  woe. 
Oh,  yes.     There's    balm.     Just     try    those 
streams 
From  Calvary  that  flow. 


n 


Barley. 

"  So  Naotni  retunied,  and  liuth  ihe  Moabitcs^,  her  daughter- 
ter-in-law,  ivilh  her,  vhi'eh  relunied  out  of  the  covntry 
of  Moab:  and  then  came,  to  Jlrfhleliem  in  the.  berjinniHij 
of  BARLEY  harvest:'     Hiith  J ::>'.>. 

The  Hebrew  word  siC(tr  means  to  shudder, 
of  hair  to  sfdud  on  end.  The  derivatives  sig- 
nify Jifiiri/.  So  se'orali  (barley),  like  the  Latin 
hordeuin,  refers  to  the  heard  of  the  l)arley.  It 
is  brisiljj.  8omo  Christians  nre  />r/.s7//y.  They 
have  a  rough  exterior  but  are  good  and  tru'\ 
Many  a  tender  heart  is  found  in  an  uncoutli 
body.  It  is  sometimes  hard  to  reach.  Barh>y 
heads  are  very  annoying  either  in  one's  mouth 
pr  ill  his  clothes,    Impatient  narcastic  rcmiu'ka 


I 


1 ' 
;  1 


^     I 


I   I 


ii!!:i 


1  iiii 


/I 


til 

':  -I 

I 


80 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTIISE 


are  defects  but  they  may  be  seen  even  In  good 
Christians.  Don't  judge  barley  by  its  bristles. 
Don't  judge  men  by  their  unpleasantness. 

The  barley  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  cereal 
used  by  man.  Three  kinds  have  been  found  in 
Switzerland  in  the  "deposits  of  the  stone  pe- 
riod." Our  earliest  historical  records  speak  of 
it  as  food  for  man.  It  was  sacred  to  the  god- 
dess Ceres,  in  whose  hair  ears  of  barley  were 
said  to  be  plaited.  Although  it  wns  superseded 
by  wheat  it  is  still  much  used,  "  Bannocks 
o'barley  meal"  are  the  daily  bread  of  the  iDeas- 
antry  in  the  lowlands  of  Scotland,  and  barley 
broth  is  in  great  favor  everywhere  in  Scotland. 
It  is  certain  that  Christianity  was  the  first  reli- 
gion. When  Adam  and  Eve  were  in  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden  th&y  worshiped  the  God  who,  when 
they  fell,  promised  a  Deliverer,  Christ.  As  it  is 
the  peasantry  that  use  barley  most  freely,  so  it 
was  the  common  people  that  heard  Christ 
gladly.  The  same  is  true  to-day.  Barley  is 
"  the  most  hardy  of  all  cereals."  Christianity 
is  the  most  hardy  of  all  religions.  It  develops 
the  truest  heroism.  It  grows  in  every  kind  of 
soil.  It  flourishes  in  the  bitter  frost  of  the 
world's  affections — drawing  food  out  of  the  cold 
ground,    Barley  linrvost  is  the  earliest.     Kuth 


ii'i 


n 
r 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE       31 

and  her  mother-in-law  returned  from  Moab  in 
the  beginning  of  "  barley  harvest,"  and  thus 
Ruth  had  all  the  harvesting  before  her.  She 
gleaned  well,  as  Boaz  could  tell  you.  Nothing 
should  yield  an  earlier  harvest  than  the  love  of 
God  in  the  heart.  It  will  do  so  if  we  give  it 
"  half  a  chance."  Christianity  claims  the  youth 
for  Christ.  What  barley  fields  we  see  to-day  in 
the  Sabbath  schools,  Christian  Endeavor  socie- 
ties. King's  Daughters,  Boys'  Brigade,  etc. 
This  is  the  beginning  of  the  "  barley  harvest " 
of  the  world's  evangelization. 

In  England  barley  is  used  mainly  to  fatten 
cattle  and  men.  (How  fat  is  "John  Bull"!) 
The  former  are  for  the  fire  of  men;  the  latter 
for  the  fire  of  the  Devil.  The  one  is  lifeless 
and  without  feeling,  cooked  for  tlie  use  of  man; 
the  other  is  deathless  with  intensified  feeling, 
given  over  to  the  malice  of  Satan.  More  money 
is  made  by  selling  man  to  the  Devil  than  by 
selling  beef  to  the  butcher.  So  men  make  bar- 
ley into  "distilled  damnation"  and  in  partner- 
ship with  their  "  Father,  the  Devil,"  trade  in 
immortal  souls.  Tluir  fatht^r  gets  all  the  gain, 
both  money  and  souls.  The  Governm^^nt  of 
enlightened  England  and  of  Canada,  for  a 
"consideration."  license \]io  rumsellers  to  poison 


ii 


m 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


w'\ 


i    I 


I  I 


iiil; 


iii; 


their  fellowmen.  It  takes,  perhaps,  twice  the 
revenue  from  this  source  to  support  in  lunatic 
asylums,  in  poor  houses,  in  penitentiaries  and 
in  jails  those  whom  liquor  puts  there.  The  ar- 
guments in  favor  of  the  liquor  traffic  are  logic 
"run  mad,"  like  the  demoniacs  among  the  tombs  ■ 
Like  everyth'ng  else  that  is  good,  barley  may 
be  abused.  In  its  natural  state  it  is  good  for 
food.  Jesus  blessed  five  barley  loaves  and  two 
fishes  and  supplied  the  multitude  with  a  plain, 
wholesome  lunch.  "  Bannocks  o'barley  meal  " 
and  water,  with  the  blessing  oE  God,  is  better 
than  the  most  sumptuous  dinner  without  Christ 
at  the  table.  So  also  the  performance  of  the 
most  commonplace  duties  for  the  glory  of  God 
is  more  glorious  than  ruling  a  city  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Satan.  "  Act  ivell  j'-our  part,  there  all 
the  honor  lies." 

The  Bay  Tree. 
The  name  does  not  occur  in  the  Revised  Ver- 
sion. Compare  the  Authorized  Version  with 
Ps.  37:35:  "I  have  seen  the  wicked  in  great 
power,  and  spreading  himself  like  a  green  tree 
in  its  nallrQ  .so/?."  Gesenius  says,  "  Ezrahh 
means,  1,  a  native  tree,  growing  in  its  own  soil, 
not  transplanted.     Ps.  37:35.     2.    Of  persons 

''anntive."    LevJ.G;29. 


'I 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       33 


Beans. 

"And  it  came  to  pass,  when  David  was  come  to  Mahanaim^ 
that  Shobi  .  .  .  and  Machir  .  .  .  and  Bar- 
eillai  .  .  .  browjht  .  .  .  BEANS,  and  lentils, 
and  parched  pulse     .     .     .    for  David."     2  Sam.  17: 

27,  28. 

"Tfte)i  said  Daniel  to  the  steward  .  .  .  Prove  thy 
servants,  I  beseech  thee,  ten  days;  and  let  them  give  us 
pulse  to  eat,  and  water  to  drink  .  .  .  and  at  the 
end  often  days  their  countenances  appeared  fairer,  and 
they  were  fatter  in  flesh,  than  all  the  youtha  which  did 
eatof  the  kinrfs  meat."     Dan.  1:  12,  15. 

The  Hebrew  word  for  beans  (pol)  means 
rolling,  from  its  shape.  This  suggests,  "  A  rol- 
ling stone  gathers  no  moss."  They  are  viciafa- 
ha.  The  word  for  pulse  (zeroim)  signifies  ve- 
getable food.  It  is  derived  from  zera  a  sowing; 
and  is  thus  a  general  term  including  the  bean, 
lentils,  etc.  There  are  more  than  350  species  of 
this  order  (leguminosae)  in  Palestine.  No  doubt 
they  were  in  general  use.  The  ancient  Egypt- 
ians believed  in  a  vegetable  diet,  although  their 
priests  were  forbidden  its  use.  The  classical 
names  Fabuis  (fal)a,  a  bi'an),  Piso  (pisum,  a 
pea),  and  Cicero  (cicer,  a  chick  pea)  indicate 
one  phase  of  Daniel's  belief  among  the  Romans. 

The  bean  is  more  nutritious  even  than  wheat. 
Daniel  and  his  companionfj  became  fleshy  on 
vegetable  diet  and  water.     1  f  a  person  is  engaged 


': 


ii 


34 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


II 


i    ! 


in  outdoor  and  heavy  manual  labor  he  can  eat 
heartily  of  meat;  but  others  need  little  if  any. 
I  am  not  a  "vegetarian;"  but  I  believe  many 
ought  to  learn  a  lesson  from  Daniel  and  his 
beans,  and  eat  less  meat  and  pickles  and  pastry. 
Spicy  (?)  novels  are  often  harmful  because  they 
give  a  false  view  of  life,  and  excite  a  false  ap- 
petite for  what  is  not  wholesome.  "We  ought  to 
keep  our  bodily  api)etites  in  subjection  and  eat 
only  what  is  wholesome. 

You  have  seen  the  bean  growing.  It  keeps 
the  seed  hidden  and  yet  they  are  seen  by  the 
shape  of  the  jjod.  They  do  not  "live  for  show." 
How  much  in  the  world  is  for  show!  Much 
money  is  spent  for  new  bonnets  and  showy  dress- 
es and  stylish  suits,  when  the  old  ones  were 
still  good — money  that  ought  to  be  spent  in 
helping  others,  in  siving  souls  from  Hell.  Some 
lives  are  "  all  for  show."  How  often  people  do 
things  "  just  for  show."  Even  virtues  are  ''par- 
aded."  The  bean  has  more  sense  and  modesty 
and  true  worth.  If  our  good  qualities  do  not 
alter  the  shape  of  onr  lives,  we  are  to  be  pitied. 
Genteel  blood  is  often  "  aped  "  by  those  of  un- 
gentle feelings  and  coarse  imitation  is  soon  man- 
ifest. If  a  person  is  genteel  that  gentility  will 
not  flaunt  its  charms.     Yet  it  will  at  once  bo  re- 


!  t 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       35 

cognized.  Thus  the  bean  leaves  whisper  "Look 
at  my  pod." 

.  The  "pole  bean"  is  {'.mbitious  and  hard  to 
satisfy.  It  climbs  gradually  to  the  top  of  the 
pole  and  still  it  grows.  Its  tendrils  wave  in  the 
air,  reaching  out  and  up  for  something  higher. 
Here  we  see  the  deep  set  aspirations  of  the  hu- 
man soul,  its  quenchle^  longings.  Let  a  man 
climb  to  the  top  of  the  ladder  of  this  world's 
fame  or  position.  Yet  his  soul  is  not  satisfied. 
He  weeps  that  there  is  not "  another  world  to  con- 
quer." And  tJirrc  is.  The  kingdom  of  Heaven, 
if  gained,  satisfies  the  most  ambitious.  The  best 
that  earth  can  give  does  not  ai3pease  the  cravings 
of  the  soul,  but  God's  love  brings  peace.  "Set 
your  mind  on  the  things  that  are  above,  not  on 
the  things  that  are  upon  the  earth."  (Col.  3:2). 
Paul  also  tells  us  (Acts  17:  27)  that  "  God  hath 
made  of  one,  eveiy  nation  of  men  to  dwell  on  all 
the  face  of  the  earth  .  .  .  that  they  should 
seek  God,  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  Him,  and 
find  Him,  though  He  is  not  far  from  each  one 
of  us."  Man's  nature  reaches  after  God,  and 
cannot  be  satisfied  unless  he  finds  Hin.  One 
thorn  of  torment  in  the  heart  of  the  lost  will 
doubtless  be  an  iniensijied  craving  for  somc- 
ihinp  tJieij  have  not  and  cannot  get.    Some  foel 


I: 


!l 


•a 


Hi 


86 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


this  thorn  even  in  the  present  life.  This  idea 
was  brought  out  in  classical  times  by  the  doom 
of  Tantalus,  from  which  word  comes  our  iania- 
lize.  Because  he  revealed  the  secrets  of  the  gods, 
he  was  sent  to  the  infernal  regions  where  he 
stood  in  water  to  his  chin,  under  an  overhanging 
fruit  tree.  They  both  retreated  whenever  he 
tried  to  satisfy  his  burning  thirst  and  intolerable 
hunger.  To  day  God  offers  you  the  "living 
water"  and  "the  bread  of  life."  Do  not  delay 
lest  it  be  removed  from  your  reach. 

The  humble  bean  tlie«e  lessons  teach; — 
We  live  for  use  and  not  for  show; 
We  should  for  things  eternal  reach, 
Until  our  souls  their  peace  do  know. 

Box  Tree. 

"  The  glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  unto  thee,  the  fir  tree,  the 
pine,  and  the  BOX^TREE  together;  to  beautij'i/  the 
place  of  my  sanctuary,  and  I  will  make  the  place  of  my 
feet  glorious."     Is.  60:  13. 

The  Hebrew  name  (teashur)  means  "erect- 
ness,  tallness,  hence  a  tall  tree,  and  as  a  proper 
name  for  a  species  of  the  cedar  .  .  .  distin- 
guished by  the  smallness  of  its  cones  and  the 
upward  direction  of  its  branches" — Gesenius. 
It  is  the  Buxus.  Its  usual  height  is  about  six- 
teen feet  with  a  diameter  of  ten  and  one-half 
inches;  but  is  said  to  attain  even  to  a  height  of 


WHISPERING  LE;..VES  OF  PALESTINE       37 


thirty  feet.  Though  Siiiall  its  wood  is  greatly 
prized  for  carving,  for  mathematical  and  musi- 
cal instruments.  So  in  life.  One's  usefulness 
does  not  depend  upon  his  position  in  society. 
Some  who  hold  no  office  are  precious  in  the 
eyes  of  God  and  man.  "Man  looketh  on  the 
outward  appearance,  but  tlie  Lord  looketh  on 
the  heart."    1  Sam.  10:  7. 

Tlie  wood  of  the  box  tree  is  very  precious  be- 
cause it  is  of  such  fine  and  even  grain.  It  in 
easily  worked.  "We  all  like  to  meet  people  of 
even,  fine  temperament.  Even  better  is  that 
Christlike  rectitude  suggested  by  the  erectness 
of  the  box.  Some  people  are  not  to  be  depend- 
ed upon.  You  never  know  how  you  will  find 
them.  A  Christian  ought  to  be  constantly  erect 
and  cheerful,  without  flaws  or  knots  or  burls, 
easy  to  deal  with,  capable  of  being  made  into 
instruments  of  praise,  beautifully  carved  by  the 
Holy  Spirit. 

Bramble. 

"Each  tree  is  known  by  its  own  fndt.  For  of  thorns  men 
do  not  gather  fitjs,  nor  of  a  BRAMBLE  bu.sh  gather 
they  grapes.''^    Luke  6 :  4t. 

The  Hebrew  word  in  Judges  (ix:  11,  15) 
rendered  bramble  is,  atfid — "The  southern 
buckthorn,   Christ's   thorn     ...     so   called 


t ' 


I 


\\ 


38 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


I 


from  the  firmness  of  its  roots." — Geseniiis.  The 
Gret^k  word  in  Luke  (0:  44,)  is  batos  "  a  thorn 
bush,  bramble,  any  prickly  shrub." — Robinson. 
Bramble  is  a  general  term,  the  bramMe  doubt- 
less referred  to  some  particular  kind,  just  as 
tJie  thorn  in  England  refers  to  the  Jiaicfho7'ne. 
However  authorities  are  not  agreed  as  to  what 
"  tiio  bramble  "  means.  Perhaps  it  will  be  best 
for  our  purpose  to  take  the  word  in  its  vague 
sense  in  which  it  includes  all  thorns  and 
briers.     What  saith  the  bramble? 

"  I  have  many  thorns.  Whence  came  they?" 
Thorns  are  dwarfed  branches  and  leaves.  Some 
tiiWi  wisely  about  the  cvohdion  of  man  from 
the  ape.  "VYe  see  in  the  bramble  an  illustra- 
tion of  the  evolution  of  man  from  the  righteous- 
ness and  spiritual  beauty  of  Eden  to  the  deform- 
ity ot  sin.  The  ground  was  cursed  by  sin  and  it 
brought  forth  thorns  and  thistles.  (Gen.  3:  18.) 
So  the  bejiutiful  branch  and  leaf  of  an  inno- 
cent life  was  dwarfed  by  sin  and  became  the 
thorn.  And  all  the  moral  evolution  has  been  a 
retrovolution  (returning  t;))  our  lost  estate  in 
Eden.  The  only  power  that  can  accomplish 
this  fully  is  the  love  of  God  in  the  heart 
through  faith  in  Christ.  Thus  only  wo  can 
become  new  creatures.     Instead  of  the  thorns 


WHISPERING  LExS^VES  OF  PALESTINE       31) 

the  leaves  of  the  Tree  of  Life  once  more  burst 
forth  and  become  a  healing  balm  for  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth.  "  Instead  of  the  thorn  shall 
come  up  the  lir  tree,  and  instead  of  the  brier 
shall  come  np  the  myrtle  tree.     Is.  55:  13. 

Some  persons  inh(>rit  a  noble  nature  from 
their  parents.  Why  U  it  they  live  a  poor 
stunted  life,  pleasant  neither  to  them^^elves  nor 
to  others.  Thev  become  brambles.  The  curse 
of  sin  has  dwarfed  their  fair  leaves  into  thorns. 
Thorns  >  ^  of  ditferent  shapes  and  sizes,  but 
still  thorns,  sharp,  cruel.  One  thorn  takes  the 
form  of  drunkenness,  another  of  profanity,  or 
deceit,  or  extrava,r?nnce,  or  meanness.  There  is  a 
power  in  the  spiritual  world  not  often  seen  in 
nature.  The  thoTu  may  yet  be  developed  into 
the  leaf — the  sooner  the  better.  Christ  is  the 
only  way.  "  Ye  will  not  come  to  me  that  ye 
may  have  life.    John  0:  40. 

The  firmness  of  tlu*  bramble  roots  is  express- 
ive. How  deep- rooted  I.s  sin  in  all  its  various 
manifestations!  Farmers  and  j;.trdoners  know 
how  difficult  it  is  to  root  n[)thr  brnmbl(\  Who 
does  not  know  how  hard  it  is  to  s^ive  up  a  bad 
ha))it.  It  is  like  ,i!:ettin^'  tooth  extracted.  The 
roots  of  evil  {Mit»M'  into  our  inmost  boiiu;-.  They 
grow   from    tlie  heart.     Beware  of  the  bogin- 


ii 


V.  t 


il 


'  i 


i 


II : 


40 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


ninths  of  evil!  God  alone  can  uproot  sin. 
Get  Him  to  do  tlio  '"shinipiuL]:"  now  that  you 
may  reap  an  early  ami  bountiful  harvest. 

Calamus  or  Sweet  Cane. 

"  The  Jjord  spake  vnio  Moses,  scnjing,  Take  thou  also  unto 
thee  the  chief  spices  .  .  .  of  sweet  CALAaIUS 
.     .     .     and  thou  shalt  make  it  an  holy  anoinfin'j  ot7." 

Ex.  30:  23. 

•'  Sweet  cane"  is  another  renderini,'  of  the 
same  Hebrew  kfineh,  also  '"sweet  flag.''  Cala- 
mus is  "  a  plant  with  a  jointed  hollow  stalk 
growing  in  wet  grounds." — Eobinson.  It  is  also 
spoken  of  as  a  reed.  (Matt.  11:  7.)  These  flags 
belong  to  the  order  Paliiiaceae,  whicli  is  charac- 
terized by  unbranched  stems  with  tufts  of 
leaves  at  the  top.  It  includes  over  a  thousand 
species.  The  fact  tliat  God  accepted  so  common 
an  offering  as  pleasing  incense  is  fragrant  with 
comfort.  We  do  not  have  to  be  illustrious  be- 
fore God  will  accept  us  as  sons.  There  will  be 
more  connnon  i)coplo  in  Heaven  than  there  will 
be  of  tlie  great  and  noble  and  rich.  Let  us  com- 
fort one  another  with  these  thoughts. 

Of  the  genus  Calamus,  Britannica  says,  *'  the 
stem  is  very  slender,  short,  erect,  prostrate  or 
Bcaudent  by  nutans  of  formidable^  hookcnl  prick- 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


41 


les  which  by  enabling  the  plant  to  siii)port  it- 
self on  the  branches  of  neighbouring  trees,  also 
permit  the  stem  to  grow  to  a  very  great  length, 
and  so  to  expose  the  foliage  to  the  light  and  air 
above  the  tree  tops  of  dense  forests.  The  leaves 
are  arranged  at  more  or  less  distant  intervals 
along  the  stem;  and  branch  regularly  in  a 
palmate  fashion,  as  in  the  fan  palms."  In  this 
we  see  adapfabi'litfj.  You  know  people  that  keep 
their  heads  high  and  go  their  own  way  regard- 
less of  circumstances  and  the  rights  cf  others. 
The  calamus  suggests  consideration  for  others 
and  adaptation  to  requirements.  Think  of  it 
rising  above  even  trees,  eager  for  liglit  juid  air. 
Oh,  that  Christians  were  all  like  minded! 
How  little  sometimes  shades  us  from  the  Light 
of  Life!  Some  trifling  business,  sonx^  worry- 
ing responsibility,  some  pleasant  recreation 
comes  between  the  soul  and  the  source  of  its 
life  and  goodness.  We  ought  to  grort-  the  more 
and  keep  our  heads  and  our  hearts  in  the  pure 
air  and  sunlight  of  Heaven.  This  would  keep 
our  life's  blood  pure  and  give  us  unftiding  spir- 
itual youth.  By  their  order  and  their  beauty 
the  leaves  rebuke  the  **  happy  go  lucky  "  life  of 
many  —  no  method  OHi)ecially  in  giving  to 
Christ's  cause.     Some  people's  liouses  and  lives 


12 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


U      W 


:•        '\, 


are  in  turmoil  from  lack  of  method,  and  giving 
from  impulse  is  worthy  only  of  irrational  be- 
ings. If  we  had  more  system  there  would  be 
more  beauty  of  soul,  more  gain  to  the  Kingdom. 
"  The  underground  stem  of  the  calamus  is  a 
rhizome  or  root-fstock,  lengthening  in  a  more  or 
less  horizoxital  manner  by  the  development  of 
the  terminal  bud,  and  sending  up  lateral 
branches,  like  suckers  from  the  root-stock, 
which  form  dense  thickets  of  cane4ike  stems." 
(Brit.)  Go  to  the  calamus  or  to  the  iiotnto, 
thou  sluggard,  thou  improvident.  If  you  do 
not  provide  for  the  future  when  you  can,  you 
may  learn  a  lesson  from  the  root  stock.  In  this 
there  is  food  laid  up  for  future  use  and  the 
germ  of  life  is  kept  safe.  A  man  worthy  of  the 
name  strives  to  provide  for  his  own  and  have  a 
"  nest  egg  "  —  a  little  laid  up  "  for  a  rainy  day." 
Life  Insurances  and  Bank  Accounts  are  com- 
mendable "  root-stocks."  Some  go  to  the  oppo- 
site extreme  and  hoard  up  all — as  if  the  calamus 
had  nothing  but  root-stock!  It  uses  its  life  to 
provide  stem  and  leaves  for  the  use  and  enjoy- 
ment of  God  and  man.  Liberality  gives  herJth 
to  the  soul  and  makes  the  root-stock  botti^r  and 
surer.  "There  is  that  scattoroth,  and  incroaoeth 
yet  more;  and  there  is  that  witbholdetli  inoro 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        13 

than  is  meet,  but  it  tendeth  onlj'^  to  want." 
Prov.  11:  24. 

The  calamus  was  used  as  a  pc».  It  ranks 
with  the  cjuill  as  a  predecessor  of  our  modern 
pen.  Are  we  willing  to  be  a  pen  held  ])y  the 
hand  of  God?  We  are  the  i)eiis.  Our  lives  are 
the  ink.  Hearts  are  the  paper.  What  kind  of 
einstles  are  we  writing?  Paul  says  (2 Cor.  !>:  2) 
'•  Ye  are  our  epistle,  written  in  our  hearts, 
known  and  read  of  all  men."  You  cannot  write 
your  life  in  an  unknown  tongue.  It  is  read  by 
(dl.  The  language  of  life  and  heart  is  the  true 
Volcqmk. 

The  prophet  Isaiah  (-42:  3)  speaks  of  the//Y(- 
(jih'ty  of  the  reed,  a  small  kind  of  calamus  —  "A 
bruised  reed  shall  He  not  break."  How  frail 
we  are!  More  so  than  we  think.  We  might  bo 
crushed  in  an  instant  by  any  one  of  the  many 
great  powers  of  the  earth  —  electricity,  gravita- 
tion, etc.  "  The  great  enemy  of  fouIs  "'  could 
make  us  worse  than  dead.  But  our  Creator 
and  loving  Father  protects  us.  Even  a  "  bruis- 
ed reed"  He  cares  for.  " Fear  ii(»t  little  flock." 
There  is  no  hand  so  tender,  yet  none  ho  strong 
as  His.  Ho  guides  the  flying  worlds  and  He 
feeds  the  sparrow.  "  Why  are  ye  fearful,  O  ye 
of  little  faith?" 


I 


!i 


I  'II! 


44 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


■I       ''" 


;t     ■!• 


i         *•■ 


I 


n^ 


Even  the  children  know  of  little  Moses  in  his 
can'-.-^  of  bulrushes  (gome).  Gcsenius  says 
"Gome  means  reed,  bulrush,  especially  the 
papyrus  which  is  made  by  Egyptians  into  gar- 
ments, shoes,  baskets,  vessels  of  various  kinds, 
espi.'i  laliy  V^nis  or  skiffs."  The  crying  baby, 
Moses,  wi!  he'p  us  remember  this.  "And 
when  she  cotiii  ^'ot  longer  hide  him,  she  took 
for  him  ♦'^  -^rk  vi  bvi'mphes  (i.  e.  pnpyrus)  and 
daubed  it  with  blime  and  with  pitch."'  (Ex.  2:  8.) 

Thus  these  rushes  were  the  means  of  saving 
from  death  that  great  deliverer  of  God's  people. 
His  cradle  was  made  water=tiglit  and  put  into 
the  river  among  the  flags,  close  to  the  shore. 
It  is  often  so  when  we  little  think  it.  A  very 
small  act  jnay  save  or  ruin  a  life.  A  life  thus 
saved  may  l)ecomo  more  than  a  king  or  queen 
—  even  a  child  of  the  Mighty  God.  Some  little 
word  may  be  the  means  of  saving  a  soul  from 
eternal  death.  On  the  other  hand,  a  sinful 
thought  expressed  may  be  as  the  germ  of  the 
"  black  diptheria  *'  of  sin,  destroying  some  pre- 
cious stnil;  the  taking  of  a  single  ghiss  of  alco- 
holic fire  may  l)e  to  another  as  the  spark  on  the 
dry  western  prairie.  Oh,  the  power  of  little 
things!    God  lielp  us  to  be  careful. 

The   word  papyrus  at  once  calls  up  from 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE       45 


memory's  depths  the  writing  materials  of  the 
ancients,  their  writing  paper.     "  This  interest- 
ing plant  is  a  tall  green  Hedge  with  a  large  and 
drooping  panicle  or  tuft  of  Horets  springing 
from  a  sheath  at  the  top.     It  reaches  a  height 
of  from  10  to  15  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  from  2 
to  3  inches  at  the  base."      In  making  paper 
''  the  rind  was  removed,  the  pith  cut  in  strips 
and  laid  lengthwise  on  a  flat  board,  their  edges 
united  by  some  glue  or  cement  and  the  whole 
subjected  to  pressure,  compacting  the  several 
strips  into  one  uniform  fabric."  —  W.  H.  Groser. 
This  paper  lasted  for  centuries,  preserving  the 
words  and  acts  of  men.     It  reminds  us  of  anoth- 
er book  whose  leaves  never  decay.      Its  ink 
never  fades.     Every  day  you  and  I  are  writing 
down  in  it  every  thought  we  nourish,   every 
word  we  speak,  every  act  we  perform.      That 
book  on  the  Judgment  Day  will  be  opened  by 
the  Judge  of  **  the  quick  and  the  dead."    "And 
I  saw  a  great  white  throne,  and  Him  that  sat 
upon  it,  from  whose  face  the  earth  and  the  heav- 
en fled  away;  and  there  was  found  no  place  for 
them.    And  I  saw  the  dead,  the  great  and  the 
small,  standing  before  the  throne;    and  books 
were  opened;  and  another  book  was  opened, 
which  is  tho  Book  of  Life:  nnd  the  dead  wero 


I 


iU 


!l 


'I 


Mm 


11 


'ifr   '  <Jlj 

m 


1 


li  I 


1*1 


4G  WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

judged  out  of  the  things  which  were  written  in 
the  books,  according  to  their  works.  And  the 
sea  gave  up  the  dead  wliich  were  in  it;  and 
death  and  Hades  gave  up  the  dead  which  were 
in  them:  and  they  wore  Judged  every  man  ac- 
cording to  their  works.  And  death  and  Hades 
were  east  into  the  Lake  of  Fire.  This  is  the 
second  death,  even  the  lake  of  fire.  And  if 
any  was  not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life, 
he  was  east  into  the  lake  of  fire."  Rev.  20: 11-15. 

Cassia  and  Cinnamon. 

Import cd,  probably  from  Cochin  China  and 
Ceylon. 

Camphire. 

"JIfj/     beloved     is    xinlo     me    as    a    cluster    of   HENNA- 
FLOWERSr     Song  1:  14. 

This  word  oeeurs  but  twieo  in  the  Authorized 
Version  of  the  Bible — both  times  in  the  Song 
of  Songs.  In  both  cases  the  Revised  Version 
reads  "Henna." 

Out  of  respect  for  the  Autliorized  Version  we 
will  consider  the  plant  under  the  name  of 
camphire. 

"  Kopher,  the  Greek  Kupros,  cypress — flower, 
el-henna  of  the  Arabs,  a  shrub  or  low  tree, 
with  fragrant  whitish  fiowerri,  growing  in  clus- 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       47 


ters  like  graioes.  .  .  .  Lawsonia  incrmis. 
.  .  .  8o  called  in  Hebrew  because  the  pow- 
der of  the  leaves  mixed  with  water  into  paste  is 
used  by  oriental  females  to  cover  or  besmear 
the  nails,  in  order  to  x^roduce  the  reddish  color 
which  they  regard  as  ornamental." — Ges.  Ka- 
phar  means  to  cover.  It  is  strange  how  some 
customs  outlive  centuries  and  dynasties — foolish 
customs  at  that.  Why  does  powdering  still 
exist?  One  would  think  that  an  upright  soul 
would  loathe  the  custom.  But  self  and  Satan 
are  a  span  that  does  not  easily  tire.  Faces  are 
not  the  only  powdered  x)art  of  some.  There  is 
white  powder  all  over  their  lives.  What  did 
Jesus  say  about  the  Pharisee,  the  moralist  of 
the  time?  *' Woe  unto  you,  scribes  and  Phari- 
sees, hypocrites!  for  ye  are  like  unto  whited 
sepulchres,  which  outwardly  appear  beautiful, 
but  inwardly  {ire  full  of  dead  men's  bones,  and 
of  all  uncltanness.*'  (Matt.  23:  27.)  There  is 
too  much  of  this  ''white-washing*'  done  today 
— and  among  resjjerfahJe  people.  And  do  not 
the  most  of  us  do  a  little  character  jiowdering? 
We  ought  the  rather  to  x)ut  the  white  powder 
upon  others  lives,  covering  uj)  iheir  faults 

This  "Lawsomii  Celba"  is  very  fragrant.     Its 
yellov.'  and  white  blossoms  emit  a  very  pleasant 


i 


\ 


:  i 


^^R' 


:iih 


il 


11 


1 

|;l| 

48 


V^niSPEKfNG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


perfume.  The  shrub  is  sometimes  as  high  as 
eight  feet.  Instead  of  making  it  the  means  of 
falsifying,  it  should  be  employed  for  the  re- 
freshment and  pleasure  of  others.  We  ought  to 
live  for  others  and  for  God.  Then  our  lives 
will  be  as  sweet  perfumes,  as  a  cluster  of  Henna 
Flowers. 

Cedar. 

^^  Hoio  goodly  are  thy  tents,  O  Jacob!     Thy  tabernacles^  O 
Israel!     ,     .     .    As  CEDAR  trees  beside  the  ivaters." 

Num.  24:  5,  6. 

''Praise  Him,  all  ye  CEDARS."     Ps.  148:  9. 

The  cedar  is  of  the  Natural  Order,  Conifera. 
"The  ahics  cedriis  or  cedriis  libamis,  the  far 
famed  cedar  of  Lebanon  is  a  tree  which  on 
account  of  its  beauty,  stateliness,  and  strength 
has  always  been  a  favorite  with  looets  and  paint- 
€)rs;  and  which  in  the  figurative  language  of 
prophecy  is  frequently  employed  in  the  Scrip- 
tures as  a  symbol  of  power,  prosperity,  and 
longevity."     (Brit.) 

The  great  forests  of  Lebanon  have  been 
destroyed  by  man  and  by  fire.  Perhaps  400 
trees  are  still  left.  Amid  this  ruin  of  the 
mountain's  former  grandeur,  trees  have  been 
found  nearly  eighty  feet  high  and  covering  a 
circle  of  earth  ninety-six  feet  in  diameter,  with 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       49 

a  trunk  forty-seven  feet  iu  diameter.  These 
trees  have  cousins  in  England — the  yew,  some 
of  which  are  thought  to  be  over  2,000  years  old; 
in  British  Columbia— the  "  Douglas  Firs,"  some 
of  which  are  nearly  400  feet  high :  in  California 
— the  Red  Cedar,  of  world  wide  fame  Their 
silent  voice  is  more  than  a  whisper. 

How  loudly  the  cedar  spoke  to  tiie  Chosen 
People!  So  it  still  speaks  to  us,  Isaiah  (2:  13) 
speaks  of  it  as  '•high  and  lifted  up."  Such 
leafy  pyramids  strike  us  dumb  with  awe  and  ad- 
miration. The  majestic  mountain  is  but  dead 
earth  and  rock.  The  cedar  has  grown  from  a 
tiny  seed  and  is  full  of  life.  Think  of  it!  How 
small  we  are.  Pluck  up  by  the  root  that  giant 
tree.  How  weak!  It  has  lived  for  centuries. 
We  are  but  a  few  years  old.  It  does  not  be- 
come us  to  think  too  much  of  ourselves. 
"Therefore  his  stature  was  exalted  above  all  the 
trees  of  the  field."     ( Ezek.  IU :  5. ) 

'The  righteous  .  .  .  shall  grow  like  a 
cedar  in  Lebanon."  (Ps.  92:  12.)  Inhowmany 
ways  Christians  are  like  cedars !  "  The  cedars  of 
Lebanon,  which  He  hath  planted."  (Ps.  101: 
16.)  Every  true  Christian  is  the  plantimj  of  the 
Lord.  He  has  grown  from  the  seed  cones  of 
God's  truth.    Man  may  reform  himself,  but  Iiq 


■ 

■ 

, 

' 

■ 

p 

i 

60 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


■?i< 


; 


1  t-^ 


la  ■; 


1  ••.' 


ii^ 


:li!; 


can  never  make    himself    a    "new    creature.' 
"  Every  plant  which  my  Heavenly  Father  planted 
not,  shall  be  rooted  up."    Jesus  is  the  author  of 
these  words  of  eternal  import.     (Matt.  15:  13.) 

"It  shall  be  a  goodly  cedar:  and  under  it  shall 
dwell  all  fowl  of  every  wing;  in  the  shadow  of 
the  branches  thereof  shall  they  dwell."  (Ezek. 
17:  28.)  We  ought  to  be  like  our  Redeemer. 
"He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the 
Most  High  shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  ih' 
Almighty.''''  (Ps.  91:1.)  You  know  Christia 
that  are  a  shade  to  which  others  love  to  flee. 
From  the  burning  heat  of  worry  one  runs  to 
such  a  shade  and  "cookj  off."  The  scorching 
sands  of  trial  seem  moist  and  settled,  as  you  sit 
by  such  a  child  of  God.  Oh !  for  more  such ! 
Are  you  one,  dear  Reader?  Let  us  be  like  Him 
who  above  all  others  is  "A  sh.'idow  from  the 
heat,  when  the  blast  of  the  terrible  ones  is  as  a 
storm  against  the  wall."     Is.  25:  4. 

The  cedar  is  evergreen.  Christians  ought  to 
be  "evergreen."  Some  who  have  no  spiritual 
understanding  say  that  evergreen  Christians 
are  always  "green,"  /.  e.  without  maturity  of 
knowledge  and  experience.  Like  the  cedar  we 
ought  always  to  show  freshness  of  life.  Some 
seem  to  have  spiritual  life  on  Sabbath  and  are 


i 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        51 


leafless  all  the  week.  These  are  not  the  plant- 
ing of  the  Lord;  at  least  they  are  not  cedars. 
We  have  evergreen  Sabbath  Schools.  Wo  need 
evergreen  Christians— in  business,  in  the  kitch- 
en, in  tlie  parlor,  as  well  as  in  the  church. 
How  does  the  cedar  keep  evergreen?  Its  leaves 
fade  and  die  and  fall  off;  but  it  mwic^  ihon  as 
fdfd  as  iJicfj  fall.  Man  is  changeful  and  fading. 
He  can  only  be  evergreen  for  Christ  by  renew- 
ing his  life  and  strength  every  day.  The  cedar 
sends  many  roots  deep  into  tlie  soil,  and  thus 
finds  moisture  id  nourishment.  The  cedar- 
Christian  must  drink  daily  of  the  fountain  of 
living  water,  and  by  his  root  of  faith  draw 
nourishment  from  the  Rock  of  Ages — the  Word. 
"The  leaves  of  the  cedar  are  straight  and 
ctjiindrical  and  j>o/'^//r(/ "  Hero  are  throe  royal 
virtues  of  the  children  of  the  Heavenly  King. 
How  many  crooh'd  church  members  there  are! 
They  are  crooked  in  business,  in  work,  in  so- 
ciety, in  conversation,  in  church  life  Most  of 
us  are  warped  somewhere.  The  cedar  Christians 
are  **  straight" — straightforward  in  everything. 
So  many  are  not  "cylindrical."  They  aie  JIal 
— insipid  spirituallij  the  Christ  spirit  is  so 
diluted  in  their  sap  (life)  that  it  hardly  flavors 
their  speech.     What  the  world  wants,  what  the 


'i 


i 

i 


I! 


';;i! 

:iii 


f"     '        I 


4' 


52 


WniSPERINQ  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


church  wants,  what  Christ  wants  is  the  unadul- 
terated life—  filled  with  theS2)irit  of  God.  You 
cannot  tjilk  to  some  "cedars'"  five  minutes  with- 
out feeliuL;-  that  their  words  are  "pointed." 
There  is  a  purpose  in  their  life — to  glorify  God 
by  beint>'  like  Him.  They  aim  at  this  when 
they  peak.  Their  tongue  is  like  the  Sword  of 
the  Spirit.  They  unconsciously  make  us  feel 
ashamed  of  oui'selves.  Their  points  entei  the 
joints  of  our  armor. 

The  ccdnr  Avoi)d  is  wonderfully  free  from 
knots.  In  British  Columbia  many  new  settlers 
make  themselves  "shacks"  (houses)  out  of  split 
cedar.  They  saw  boards  with  an  axe.  Some 
Christians  are  very  knotty.  We  ought  to  be 
free  from  frowns,  impatient  rem;irks  vA\d  dis- 
turbing passions.  Like  the  cedar  wood  fclie  life 
of  a  Christian  ought  to  be  fragrant  with  benign 
acts.  There  is  something  about  the  atmosphere 
of  a  cedar^^Christian  that  tells  of  the  sweetness 
of  his  inner  life.  Pliny  says  the  cedar  wood  is 
everlasting.  The  cedars  of  Lebanon  are  more 
entluring  even  than  ours.  The  works  of  s<ano 
men  die  before  them.  (The  sooniT  dead  the 
bettor)  but  a  cedar  that  is  the  planting  of  the 
Lord  "  though  dead  yet  speaks."  His  memory 
is  green  long  after  Ins  body  mouklers  into  dust, 


'il,:. 


WHISPERING  LEAVi:S  OP  PALESTINE       53 


The  more  >ve  are  like  Christ  the  more  abiding  is 
our  life  and  work.  "Establish  Thou  the  work 
of  our  hands  upon  us;  yea,  the  work  of  our 
hands  establish  Thou  it."     Ps.  90:  17. 

"David  said  to  Nathan  the  prophet,  Lo,  I 
dwell  in  a  house  of  cedar,  but  the  ark  of  the 
covenant  of  \l\e  Lord  dwelleth  under  curtains." 
(I  Chron.  17:  1.)  Many  to-day  live  in  ekgant 
houses,  while  the  ark  of  their  God  is  burdened 
with  debt.  Missionaries,  ready  to  go  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth  to  win  souls  for  Christ,  have  to  stay 
at  home  because  Christians  spend  most  of  their 
money  upon  themselves.  But  "  David  gathered 
for  the  temple  cedar  trees  without  number." 
(I  Chr.  22:  4.)  Cedars  devoted  to  God  is  what 
advances  the  kingdom.  No  other  life  is  so 
noble  as  the  devoted  Christian's.  Here  wo  see 
a  noble  end,  sought  by  noble  means,  by  n  noble 
soul.  Here  we  Fee  the  statoliness,  the  majesty 
of  the  cedar.  Here  we  sei^  the  power  of  which 
the  cedar  is  a  sturdy  symbol.  "I  can  do  all 
things  in  Him  that  strengtheneth  mc"  (Phil. 
4:  18.)  At  last  by  His  grace  those  who  love 
God  shall  become  part  of  His  spiritual  temple. 
"He  that  overcometh,  I  will  make  him  a  pillar 
in  the  temple  of  my  God."     (Rev.  3:  12.) 


i 


w 


51 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


Chestnut— S'<?e  Plane  Tree. 


1 ;. 

< 


n 


Cockle. 

"  Let  thistles  grow  instead  of  wheat,  and  COCKLE  instead 
of  barley."     Job.  31:10. 

The  word  (bosliali)  here  translated  cockle,  is 
a  <^eneral  term  meaning:  "bad  plant,  tveed.'''' 

It  is  a  remarkable  and  suggestive  fact  that  go 
where  you  will  and  turn  up  the  sod  you  will 
soon  see  the  weeds  growing  luxuriantly.  It  is  a 
picture  of  tlie  human  heart  which  is  full  of  the 
seeds  of  sin.  Often  these  lie  hidden  and  unsus- 
pecteil  for  years.  Something  turns  up  the  sod 
of  the  heart  and  the  sin  at  ouce  appears.  Look 
at  the  denial  of  the  zealous  Peter.  Look  at 
your  own  live-;.  Weeds  are  a  sign  of  neglect. 
We  noed  to  be  constantly  diligent  in  (cultivating 
our  lives  or  sins  will  show  oar  neglect.  The 
enemy  of  souls  sows  seeds  of  evil  in  our  heart 
every  chance  he  gets.  Look  out  for  your  fields 
of  growing  wheat.  Seek  protection  from  Him 
who  alone  is  able  to  guard  you  from  the  arch- 
fiend. And  weeds  "yield"  ahundanihj.  Those 
who  "sow  their  wild  oats"*  must  reaj)  their  in- 
croubo. 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        65 


Coriander. 

'^^  And  the  house  of  Israel  called  the  name  thereof  Manna: 
and  it  was  like  CORIANDER  seed,  whifrr     Kx.  W::il. 

"  Gad,  coriander,  the  seed,  so  called  from  the 
little  furrows  or  stripes  on  the  Lcrains."  (Ges). 
Gadad  means  to  cut  into.  "  Coriander,  the 
fruit,  improperly  called  seed,  of  an  umbellifer- 
ous plant  (Coriandrum  Sativum),  a  native  of 
the  south  of  Europe  and  Asia  Minor.  .  .  . 
The  plant  produces  a  stem  risinjjj  about  a  foot 
in  hoij^-ht,  with  bi  pinnate  leaves  and  llowors  in 
pink  or  whitish  umbels.  Tlie  fruit  is  ,u:lol)ular 
and  externally  smooth,  having  five  indistinct 
ridp:es;  and  the  mcricarps  or  half  fruits,  do  not 
readily  separate  from  each  other.  It  is  used  in 
medicine  as  an  aromatic  and  carminalive;  and 
on  account  of  its  pleasant  and  puii^j:*.  nt  flavor, 
it  is  a  favorite  iuL^rcdient  in  hot  curries  and 
sauces.  .  .  .  The  tender  leaves  and  shoots 
of  the  youn<2:  plant  are  ustd  in  soups  and  sal- 
ads."    (Brit.) 

Some  niin'htrejjfard  tlie  furrows  of  this  corian- 
der seed  as  a  defect.  Some  rcL^ard  wrinkles 
and  furrows  in  the  face  a  defect.  Bnt  th(\v  nro 
natural  to  some  people,  especiiilly  the  old.  They 
are  said  to  be  expressive  of  thoujj^ht.  At  least, 
like  ^a'cy  liairs,  they  are  in  themselvo^;  no  dis- 


I 


j 

i 


86 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


i!ii 


m   t 


(:i 


■Hi 


I  ; 

I 
I 


1;  ■!'' 


I'lli 


grace,  but  if  found  in  the  way  of  righteousness 
and  good  thoughts,  they  are  even  an  ornament. 
In  spite  of  its  wrinkles  the  coriander  seed  is 
aromatic  and  fragrant.  Too  much  regard  is  paid 
to  the  outward  appearance  and  too  little  to  in- 
ternal worth.  Sweetness  and  beauty  of  the 
inner  life  are  rather  to  be  desired  than  a  beau- 
tiful exterior  appearance.  Some  say  "  Beauty 
is  only  skin  deep."  With  some,  beauty  is  only 
powder  deep. 

Cucumber^ 

u  p^g  remember  the  fish,  which  we  did  eat  in  Egypt  for  nought; 
the  CUCUMBERS,  and  the  melons,  and  the  leeks,  and 
the  onio7is,  and  the  garlick."     Num.  11:5. 

Kishuim,  translated  cucumbers,  derived  its 
name  from  its  hardness  and  the  difficulty  in  di- 
gesting it.  The  genus  (cucumis)  is  of  the  Na- 
tural Order  Cucurl)itaceae.  The  species  referred 
to,  if  any  particular  one,  is  still  undetermined. 
The  melon  is  "  cucumis  melo."  "  It  is  excess- 
ively variable  both  in  diversity  of  foliage  and 
habit,  but  much  more  so  in  the  fruit  which  in 
some  varieties  is  no  larger  than  an  olive,  while 
in  others  it  rivals  tlio  ponderous  fruits  of  the 
gourd  (cucurliita  maxima)."     Brit. 

You  have,  perhaps,  met  men  of  one  idea. 
They  "  ride  their  hobby  to  death."    Their  views 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       57 


are  onesided,  narrow,  illiberal,  deformed.  The 
bigot  in  religion  is  not  alone.  Faddists  are 
multiform.  A  thousand  voices  in  nature  whis- 
per Be  many  sided.  Cramp  not  the  mind. 
Specialists  have  their  advantages,  but  also  their 
peculiar  dangers.  Truth  is  as  diversified  as  the 
Cucumis,  No  one  should  think  that  he  knows 
all  the  truth,  and  every  one  else  knows  little. 

The  expression,  "  as  cool  as  a  cucumber,"  is 
founded  on  fact.  It  is  colder  than  the  sur- 
rounding air.  The  hot-headed  person  ought  to 
put  his  ear  beside  the  cucumber.  Don't  be 
rash.  Take  things  coolly.  We  should  make 
allowance  for  excitable  people;  but  if  we  were 
like  cucumbers  we  would  not  utter  so  many 
"  hot  words,"  form  so  many  hasty  judgments, 
nor  act  so  imprudently.  How  cooling  is  a 
melon!    Can  we  cool  others  off? 

It  needs  a  healthy  and  vigorous  stomach  to 
digest  the  cucumber.  Some  truths  are  like 
that,  and  people  with  weak  spiritual  stomachs 
ought  to  leave  these  things  alone.  Paul  says 
(1  Cor.  3:2),  "I  fed  you  with  milk,  not  with 
meat;  for  ye  were  not  (thie  io  hear  U :  nay,  not 
even  now  are  ye  able."  Even  the  carnally 
minded  sometimes  try  to  solve  the  mysteries  of 
the  Bible.    They  endeavor  to  make  plain  the 


W 


\\ 


; 


f  1 

*     ; 


1  m^ 

t  xi:    '     ' 


ill; 


58 


WHISPERING  LEA.VES  OF  PALESTINE 


relation  su]3sisting  between  the  Persons  of  the 
Trinity,  to  explain  tlio  introduction  of  sin  into 
the  world,  and  "  clear  up  "  all  misty  doctrines. 
They  fail  to  digest  them,  and  they  become 
spritual  dyspeptics.  There  is  plenty  of  food 
in  the  Bible  that  is  easily  digested.  Beware 
of  the  c/rc/(mf;rr  problems.  Peter  says  (2  Pet. 
3:1G),  '•' Our  beloved  brother  Paul  also  .  .  . 
in  all  his  epistles,  ppeaking  in  them  of  these 
things;  wherein  are  some  things  hard  to  he  un- 
stood,  wliich  the  ignorant  and  unstedfast  wrest, 
as  tlu'y  do  also  the  other  scriptures,  unto  their 
own  destruction." 

Look  at  the  melon  growing  in  dry,  sandy  soil. 
Opi^ii  it  and  tell  nie  where  it  gt^ts  the  moisture. 
It  lifis    a  wonderful  power  bestowed   upon  it 
by  its  OL'e;itor.     Morally  and   spiritually    this 
world  is  a  sandy  desert.     God  endows  those  who 
lore.  Him  with  a  now  life  capable  of  drawing 
water  out  of  tlie  flinty  rock  and  burning  sands. 
It  is  just  suited  for  the  present  life,  yet  some 
think  it  is  fit  only  for  the  dying!     Do  you  ever 
get    thirsty,    fellow-traveller?       Riches,    fame, 
pleasures  cannot  satisfy  soul  thirst.     Listen  to 
the  incarnate  God  as  He  sits  by  the  well  of 
Sychar:      "Whosoever  drinketh   of   the  water 
that  I  shall  give  him  shall  never  thirst j  but  the 


\     ':$ 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       59 


water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  become  in  him 
a  well  of  water  springiiiu^  up  unto  eternal  life."' 
(John  4:11).  Even  many  Christians  nearly 
perish  from  thirst,  yet  will  not  take  the  prof- 
fered livinj^^  water,  There  are  so  many  "  dry  '' 
Christians.  That  is  why  young  men  are  often 
so  afraid  of  religion.  Give  the  world  a  church 
full  of  "melons"  and  the  youth  vrill  run  unto  it. 
They  would  realize  that  relii^ion  is  to  "live  by" 
as  well  as  to  "  die  by."'  Talk  to  yonder  man  that 
has,  like  Job,  lost  his  earthly  all.  He  is  cheer- 
ful. He  finds  comfort  in  his  losses — gets  moist- 
ure from  the  hot  ashes  of  his  ruins.  "  Whom 
the  Lord  lovotli  He  chastenelh."'  As  he  sits 
beside  the  lifeless  form  of  some  dear  one  his 
lieart  is  peaceful.  He  tliiaks.  "It  is  hard  to 
part,  but  it  is  only  for  a  little  ^vhile— not  dead 
but  gone  before.  Lord  h(^lp  me  to  follow." 
This  one  is  a  sijiritual  melon — his  heart  is  al- 
ways full  (jf  the  water  of  life.  The  scorching 
sands  of  trial,  ihe  burning  rays  of  persecution 
make  him  drive  his  root  of  faith  the  deeper  into 
the  truth  of  God  wht>re  living  waters  flow. 
"And  all  did  drink  the  same  spiritual  driidi: 
for  they  drank  of  a  spiritual  rock  that  followed 
them:  !ind  the  rock  was  Christ."    (1  Cor.  10:4.) 


f 


m 


60 


'WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


i^: 


I 


,i 


; 


Cummin. 

"  When  he  hath  made  -^dain  the  face  thereof,  doth  he  not 
cast  abroad  the  fitches,  and  scatter  the  CUMMIN,  and 
put  in  the  wheat  in  rows?  .  .  .  For  the  fitches  are 
not  threshed  tvith  a  sharp  threshing  instrument,  neither 
is  a  cart  wheel  turnt  I  about  upon  the  CUMMIN;  Ind 
the  fitches  are  beaten  out  loith  a  staff,  and  the  CUMMIN 
with  a  rod:'     Is.  28:25,  27. 

"Kammon,  cumin,  German  Kimmel,  cumin- 
un  sativum  Linn,  used  alone:  with  salt  as  a  con- 
diment."— Ges,  The  Greek  word  used  in  the 
New  Testamexit  is  very  similar,  kuminon.  Rob- 
inson says  of  it  "  an  umbelliferous  plant  with 
aromatic  seed  of  a  warm  and  ])itterisli  taste, 
very  similar  to  caraway  seeds;  they  were  used 
by  the  ancients  as  a  condiment,  as  they  still  are 
by  the  common  iieople  of  Germany."  From 
Britannica  Ave  cull — "  It  is  a  stimulant  and  car- 
minative, and  is  employed  in  the  manufacture 
of  curry  powder.  It  was  a(?counted  the  best  of 
condiments  as  a  remedy  for  squeamishness." 

From  Isaiah  we  learn  tlifit  it  was  easily 
threshed.  It  needed  but  a  rod  to  make  it  yield 
its  fruit.  It  was  neither  '•  tight-fisted"  nor 
"  close  minded."  It  is  thus  a  gentle  rebuke  to 
two  great  evils.  There  are  many  v,lio  have  far 
more  than  their  necessities  require,  yet  they 
close  their  hand  tight  upon  their  money  when 
the  needs  appeal  for  help.     Giving  ought  to  be 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       61 


done  wisely  but  not  stingily.  The  missions  of 
the  Protestant  Churches  are  a  safe  investment 
for  all  the  wealth  of  the  rich  and  the  mites  of 
the  poor.  The  interest  promised  by  the  Bank 
of  Heaven  is  '"one  hundred  fold  ''  and  the  prin- 
cipal yields  "eternal  life."  (Matt.  19:29). 
Wealth  kept  becomes  sour  and  injurious;  wealth 
given  for  good  purposes  is  "  medicinal  and  aro- 
matic." "Freely  ye  received,  freely  give." 
(Matt.  10:8).  Then  there  are  the  "  close  mind- 
ed" people.  They  are  as  stingy  of  their 
thoughts  and  their  knowledge  as  the  miser  is  of 
his  money.  They  see  the  folly  of  those  who 
tell  everything  to  anyone;  and  they  go  to  the 
opposite  extreme.  Let  us  seek  to  help  others 
by  readily  communicating  to  them  good  words 
and  helpful  thoughts.  If  we  know  of  a  book  or 
newspaper  that  would  do  a  friend  much  good 
we  ought  at  least  to  recommend  it,  if  we  cannot 
buy  it  for  them.  Mental  and  spiritual  wants  are 
greater  than  physical.  "  Iron  sharpeneth  iron; 
so  a  man  sharpeneth  the  countenance  of  his 
friend."     (Prov.  27:17). 

Readiness  to  help  is  also  a  "  remedy  for 
squeamishness."  Excessive  reserve  leads  to 
sourness.  If  one  eats  heartily  and  works  spar- 
ingly he  is  likely  soon  to  be  sick  at  his  stomach 


■  ■ 


\ 


■Ti 


H 


62 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


!r' 


V- 


i 


1 

ill' 
I  1> 


h 


ml 


''i!l 


niiCi' 


— feel  squeamish.  Tlie  one  who  is  all  the  time 
jj^ettiiiij^  from  others  and  not  giving  much  in  re- 
turn becomes  spiritually  and  morally  squeamish, 
sickly.  The  love  of  God  in  the  heart  is  better 
than  cummin  in  the  stomach.  It  gives  one  life 
and  health.  The  more  one  works  the  more  he 
can  eat.  The  more  one  imparts,  the  more  he 
can  receive.  And  God  fills  our  hearts  whether 
they  are  large  or  small.  Some  try  to  get  all 
they  can  and  do  not  communicate  to  others. 
The  heart  is  enlarged  by  giving.     "  The  liberal 

soul  is  made  fat," 

The  water  that's  kept  in  a  barrel  shut  tight 
Becomes  very  soon  e'en  unfit  for  the  nose; 

But  water  that  runs  aiul  that  bubbles  along 
Is  better  and  better  the  farther  it  goes. 

Cypress. 

'•'■  He  hewcih  him  down  cedars,  and  taketh  the  CYPRESS 
{Rev.  Vers.  Holm  tree)  and  the  oak."  {Aiit.  Vers.) 
Is.  11:1-1. 

"^nd  Hiram  sent  to  Solomon^  sayinrf,  I  have  heard  themes- 
satje  tvhich  thou  hast  sent  -unto  vie:  I  will  do  all  thy 
desire  co)icernin<j  tiinl)er  of  cedar,  and  concernin(f  tim- 
ber of  fir  {or  CYPRESS )."     I  King  5:8. 

There  is  dift'(>rence  of  opinion  as  to  the  ren- 
dering of  certain  Hebrew  names  of  trees.  Ges- 
enius  thinks  that  iirzah  of  Is.  44:14  should  be 
translated  oak,  fiom  its  hardness.  So  the  Re- 
vised Version.     Gesenius  thinks  that  (jovsh  of 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE      63 

I  Kings  5:8  is  cypress,  also  of  ninny  other  pas- 
sages where  the  Authorized  Version  has  fir  or 
fir  trees.  So  also  in  margin  of  Revised  Version. 
It  little  matters  for  our  purpose.  The  cypress  is 
meant  either  by  tirzdh  or  by  hcrosh.  It  is  not 
now  indigenous  on  Lebanon  but  in  the  great 
destruction  that  has  come  upon  cill  the  trees  of 
Palestine,  it  may  have  been  exterminated. 

Cypress  is  the  name  given  to  a  genus  (ciij))'cS' 
sns)  of  the  Natural  Order  Conifrrcn  or  Limtccdc. 
"The  leaves  of  the  cypresses  arescale^like,  over- 
lapping and  generally  in  four  rows  .  .  .  the 
seeds  are  wimcrous  and  winged.  All  the  species 
exude  resin  but  no  turpentine.  The  C  Seniper- 
virens,  the  common  cypress,  is  a  native  of  the 
Levant  and  Persia.  It  is  a  tapering  and  flame= 
shaj)ed  tree,  resembling  the  Lombard  poplar; 
its  branches  are  thickly  covercnl  with  small  im- 
bricated, shining  green  leaves.  In  its  native 
soil  the  tree  grows  to  the  heiglit  of  seventy  or 
ninety  feet.  .  .  .  The  I imlxT  is  hard,  close- 
grained,  of  a  fine  redisli  hue  and  very  durable 
.  .  .  was  employed  fur  Jiuiaimy  cases  and 
images  of  the  gods.  .  .  .  The  Cypress  doors 
of  the  ancient  St.  Peter's  at  Ronn^  when  re- 
moved by  Eugene  IV  wert>  about  llOOyenrs  old, 
but  nevertheless  in  a  stale  of  perf(K't  preserva- 


!! 


'Ml! 


1 

' 

1 

: 

i 

1 

1  i 

1 

P 

' 

i 

i 

f  ^i  :^^M 


I 


64 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


tion.  Laws  were  engraved  on  cypress  by  the 
ancients  and  objects  of  value  were  preserved  in 
receptacles  made  of  it.  .  .  .  The  tree  grows 
straight  or  nearly  so  and  has  a  gloomy  and  for- 
bidding but  wonderfully  stately  aspect.  .  .  . 
The  berosli  or  beroth  of  Scripture,  translated 
*fir'  in  the  Authorized  Version  in  Kings  5:  8, 
etc.,  etc.,  is  supposed  to  signify  the  Cypress." 
Brit.  There  are  several  species  of  the  cypress 
in  California  varying  from  shrubs  to  giants  100 
feet  in  height. 

"  Herein  is  my  Father  glorified  that  ye  bear 
much  fruit."  There  is  so  much  wheat  of  the 
Kingdom  blasted  by  weavil,  mildew  and  smut. 
So  many  Christian  lives  are  blasted  by  sins  and 
bear  little  fruit.  How  numerous  should  be  our 
deeds  of  kindness!  our  acts  of  fidelity  to  God! 
More  numerous  even  than  the  seeds  of  the 
cypress.  God's  truth  too  is  "winged."  You 
may  say  many  things  which  will  fall  llfel  u 
the  ground;  but  God's  Word  is  "li  uo- 

tive."  It  has  wings.  It  flies  to  tii  heart  .iid 
seeks  admission  by  door  or  window.  Some  imes 
it  enters  a  very  small  crevice.  It  fills  the  heart, 
opens  wide  the  door,  and  draws  aside  the  cur- 
tains. If  you  wish  to  say  what  will  not  die  as 
poon  as  it  passes  your  lips,  speak  the  truth  of 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       05 


God  and  pray  Him  to  guide  its  flight  to  the 
open  heart.  Let  Hia  words  be  numerous  in 
your  speech  and  life.  If  you  are  such  a  cypress 
of  the  Lord,  the  resin  of  sweet  incense  will 
accumulate  to  His  glory. 

The  cypress  points  upward.  Its  cone-shaped 
form  is  like  a  finger-board. — This  way  to  the 
Creator,  and  its  stately  majesty  is  an  emblem  of 
the  dignity  of  one  who  lives  for  God  and  whose 
life  is  ever  directing  others  to  the  Heaven  of 
heavens. 

The  wood  of  the  cypress  is  very  enduring  and 
beautiful.  There  is  no  life  so  beautiful  as  the 
one  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  Redeemer  and 
tinged  with  the  rosy  hue  of  hope.  Such  a  life 
will  endure.  The  oldest  tree  in  Europe  is  said 
to  be  a  cypress,  in  Lombardy,  which  is  believed 
to  have  been  in  existence  in  the  days  of  Julius 
Caesar.  The  lives  of  many  die  before  they  do; 
but  the  soldier  of  Christ  wins  victories  that  will 
outlast  this  enduring  world;  and  in  after  agas  it 
will  be  said  ''though  dead,  he  yet  speaks."  Is 
your  life  such  as  will  stand  the  test  of  tim^  ind 
death?  Is  the  Law  of  God  written  upon  the 
tablets  of  your  heart? 


I 


i 


66 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


'^!  Si 


!*     I 


Ebony. 

Not  indigenous  to  Palestine — probably  im- 
ported from  the  Coromandel  Coast. 

Fig  Tree. 

''Now  from  the  FIG  TREE  learn  her  parable:'  Matt.  24:  32. 

''But  they  shall  sit  every  man  iinder  his  vine  and  under  his 
FIO  TREE;  and  none  shall  make  them  afraid.^' 

Mic.  4:4. 

The  Jews  called  the  fig  tree  teencih  from  its 
S'preadhig  branches.  Taan  means  to  spread 
out,  to  extend. 

"Fig  is  the  popular  name  given  to  the  genus 
ficus,  an  extensive  group  included  in  the  Natural 
Order  moraceae.  .  .  .  The  figs  vary  greatly 
in  habit,  some  being  low  trailing  shrubs,  others 
gigantic  trees.  .  .  .  Ficus  carica  which  yields 
the  well  known  figs  of  commerce  is  a  bush  or 
small  tree  rarely  more  than  eighteen  or  twenty 
feet  high,  with  broad  rough  deciduous  leaves, 
very  deeply  lobed  in  the  cultivated  varieties, 
but  in  the  wild  plant  sometimes  nearly  entire 
.  .  From  the  ease  with  which  the  nutritious 
fruit  can  be  preserved,  it  was  probably  one  of 
the  earliest  objects  of  cultivation,  as  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  frecpient  allusions  to  it  in  the 
Hebrew  Scriptures.  .  .  .  The  Greeks  are 
said  to  have  receivbd  it  from  Caria  (hence  the 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       67 


specific  name);  but  the  fruit  so  improved  under 
Hellenic  culture  that  Altic  figs  became  cele- 
brated throughout  the  east  and  special  laws 
were  made  to  regulate  their  exportation.  From 
the  contemptuous  name  given  to  informers 
against  the  violation  of  these  enactments,  syko- 
phantai,  our  modern  word  sycophant  is  traced. 
.  .  .  The  varieties  are  extremely  numerous 
and  the  fruit  is  of  various  colors  from  deep 
purple  to  yellow  or  nearly  white.  The  trees 
usually  bear  two  crops;  one  in  the  early  summer 
from  the  buds  of  the  last  year,  the  other  in  the 
autumn  from  tlio.ie  on  the  f-:piiiig  growth.  The 
latter  form  the  chief  harvest.  .  .  .  When 
ripe  till*  figs  are  picked  and  spread  out  to  dry  in 
the  sun.  .  .  .  This  fruit  still  constitutes  a 
large  part  of  the  food  of  the  natives  of  western 
Asia  and  southern  Europe  both  in  the  fresh  h..  u 
dried  st  ite.  A  sort  of  cake  made  by  mashing 
up  the  inferior  kinds  serves  in  parts  of  the 
Archipelago  as  a  substitute  for  bread;  mixrd 
with  almonds  a  .-iimilar  preparation  is  sold  in  the 
streets  of  our  large  towns  and  eaten  as  a  luxury 
by  the  poor  under  the  name  of  *fig  cake.'  .  .  . 
Medicinally  the  fig  is  employed  as  a  gentle 
laxative.  ...  It  forms  a  part  of  the  welb 
known   'confection  of  senna.'    Cut   open  the 


Mi 


.  r;   l| 


i; 


I 


11 


,  i 


h 
1 1 


G8 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


fruit  is  a  popular  cataplasm  for  boils  and  sores, 
an  application  as  old  as  the  days  of  Hezekiali. 
It  is  recommended  as  a  demulcent  in  disorders 
of  the  throat,  being  given  in  the  form  of  a  de- 
coction.   .    .     .    The  sycamore  fig  (Ficus  Sy- 
camorus)   is  a  tree  of  large  size,  with  heart* 
shai^ed  leaves  which  from  their  fancied  resem- 
])lanc('  to  those  of  the  mulberry  gave  origin  to 
the  name  sykomoros.     From  the  deep  shade 
cast  by  its  reaching  branches  it  is  a  favorite 
tree  in  Egypt  and  Syria,  being  often  planted 
along  roads  and  near  houses.     The  sacred  fig, 
Pippul  or  Bo,  ficus  religiosa,  a  large  tree,  with 
heart=sliiij)ed,   long-pointed    leaves   (m    slender 
foot  stalks,  is  much   grown  in  southern  Asia 
The  leaves  are  used  for  tanning,  and  afford  lac, 
and  some  caoutchouc  is  obtained  from  the  juice; 
but  in  India  it  is  chiefly  planted  with  a  religious 
ol)ject,  being  regfirded  as  sacred  l:)y  both  Brah- 
mans   and  Buddhists.     .     .     .     Ficus   elastica, 
the   India    Rubber  Tree,   with    large    oblong, 
glossy  leaves,  the   pink   buds  of  which  are  so 
familiar  in  our  greenhouses,  furnishes  most  of 
the  caoutchouc  obtained  from  the  East  Indies. 
It  grows  to  a  large  size  and  is  remarkable  for 
the   snakelike  roots   that   extend   in  contorted 
umBses  around  the  babo  u£  the  trunk.     .    •    . 


1 1 


\>v 


AVHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


r>9 


The  Banyan  Tree  (Ficus  Indica,  Linn..  Uros- 
tip^ina  Bonghalcnse,  Gaspar)  is  a  native  of  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  East  Indies  and  Ceylon.  .  .  . 
Every  branch  from  the  main  body  throws  oat 
its  own  roots,  at  least  in  small  tender  fibres, 
several  yards  from  the  tj^ronnd;  but  tlK^se  con- 
tinually i^Tow  thicker  until  ihey  roacli  the  sur- 
face when  they  strike  in,  increase  t*)  lariije 
trunks  and  become  jjaront  trees,  shoot iui^'  out 
new  branches  from  the  top,  which  ai>ain  in  time 
suspend  their  roots.  .  .  .  On  the  banks  of 
the  Nerbudda  accordiu}^  to  Forbes'  'Orirnt.il 
Memories'  stands  a  celebrated  tree  of  tliis  kind. 
.  .  .  This  tree  once  covered  an  area  f;o  im- 
mense that  it  has  been  known  to  sheltov  no 
fewer  than  7,000  men.  Though  now  much  re- 
duced in  size  by  the  destructive  pov.er  of  tii-^ 
floods  tlie  remainder  is  still  nearly  2.000  fo<  t  in 
circumference,  and  the  trunks  large  and  small 
exceed  J>,000  in  number.  .  .  .  The  trade  in 
the  edible  fig  is  one  of  long  standing.  .  .  . 
Figs  are  easily  preserved  by  simply  drying  in 
the  sun,  the  grape  sugar  which  they  contain  in 
abundance  being  thus  rendered  avuilabln  for 
their  preservation." — Brit. 

The  spreading  nature  of  t<U'  llg  (esn;  ••ja'iy 
tlie  Banyan  tree,  a  cousin   of  the  common  fig 


i 


TT 


70 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


tree)   is  a  seed^thought.      The     evil     in    the 
world    spreads    with    heart=ronding    rapidity. 
Evil  men  scatter  broadcast  their  evil  thoughts. 
The  venom  of  their  evil  lives  spreads  like  ink 
poured  into  water.   One  sin  may  blacken  a  whole 
life.      Satan   roaches  out   his   arms   and   casts 
abroad  his  baneful  shade.     Do  Christians  make 
their  influence  felt  as  powerfidly?  Are  you  like 
salt  spreading  all  around   you   your   preserving 
power?     Are  you  scattering  broadcast  the  bless- 
ed truths   that  save?    Is  your  life  a  constant 
benediction,  ever  increasing  the  circumference 
of  its  shade?     God's  truth  is   itself  like   the 
spreading  Banyan.      It  gets  a  footing  in  one 
heart;  and,  then,  reaches   out   its  arms  until  it 
finds  some  kindred  soul.     Its  fingers  undo  the 
fastenings  and  with  a  gentle  knock  it  enters  —  a 
welcome  guest  '*  come  to  stay."      From  one  to 
another  it  goes  with  rapid  pace.     Many  it  pass- 
es because  its  gentle  knock  is  not  heard  amid 
the  revelry  within.    ^  m  who  are  entertaining 
Satan  and  his  retinue  go  to  the  door  and  listen. 
If  you  hear  Truth's  voice  let  her  in  and  she  will 
drive  all  the  hellish  crew  out  of  your  heart  and 
make  you  a  free  child  of  God.     The  trutli  goes 
on  spreading.    To  some  it  proves  a  savor  of  life 
unto  life;  to  others  the  savor  of  death  unto  death. 


■WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


71 


O 


Let  every  soul  ask,  Which  is  it  to  me?  Am  I 
helping  or  hindering  the  spread  of  truth?  It 
will  triumph  gloriously  in  all  the  oarth.  Shall 
I  share  the  glory  or  be  crushed  beneath  its  car? 

The  leaves  say  we  are  deciduous.  You  and  I 
can  say  the  same — tleeiduous.  "  We  all  do  fade 
as  a  leaf."  We  fall  before  the  wintry  blast  of 
death,  but  in  the  spring  time  of  the  Resurrec- 
tion our  bodies  shall  rise  again.  Will  they  rise 
in  the  image  of  Satan  or  of  Christ?  Which  are 
you  serving?  Oh,  how  glorious  the  new  body 
of  the  Redeemed!  Eternal  youth  and  life  and 
beauty!    Christlike  immortality! 

The  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  is  a  wonderful  med- 
icine. When  taken  inwardly,  as  it  always  should 
be,  it  sets  the  whole  system  in  order  and  gives 
new  life.  Figs  are  a  pleasant  medicine  to  take. 
The  truth  seems  bitter  to  those  whose  taste  has 
been  vitiated  by  sin.  but  if  taken  it  becomes 
most  sweet.  Sores  and  bruises  speedily  yield  to 
the  healing  powers  of  the  Gospel  plaster.  What 
a  demulcent  is  the  love  of  God!  How  soothing! 
The  most  stubborn  irritation  "gives  way"  to 
this.  It  is  like  oil  upon  the  troubled  waters  of 
the  soul. 

The  Sycamon^  tig  and  the  sacred  fig  liave 
hcart'Shapcd  leaves.    A  Christian  heart  is  a  ten- 


, 


t  I 


'^mfm-^K^^imw^mmimer 


■Mm 


if 


72 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


der  heart.  A  heart  would  be  a  good  symbol  of 
the  love  of  God.  It  has  to  do  "wlili  JicaHs  not 
heads.  It  comes  from  the  heart  of  God.  It 
must  enter  our  hearts  in  order  to  help  us.  There 
it  must  dwell.  It  is  the  heart  of  Christianity, 
not  the  Bword  as  of  Islam,  that  wins  its  converts. 

The  rubber  of  the  "  ficus  elastica  "  keeps  our 
feet  dry,  protects  indeed  our  whole  body,  is  a 
bond  (  f  union,  drives  our  machinery  and  enters 
into  many  departments  of  life.  "The  law  of 
his  God  in  in  his  heart,  not  one  of  his  steps  shall 
slide."  These  words  are  the  "rubbers"'  of  truth 
to  keep  our  feet  dry  and  1o  keep  them  from  slip- 
jnng.  Nothing  else  can  protect  us  from  the 
rain  like  truth.  "Honeslyis  the  best  policy." 
God's  love  is  the  bond  of  union  between  Christ 
and  the  bouI,  between  soul  and  soul.  It  is  the 
belt  that  transmits  the  power  of  God  to  the  dif- 
ferent departments  of  life  in  this  lower  world. 

Some  say  that  Gaelic  was  spoken  in  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden!  TLe  multitude  demur.  But  we 
must  believe  the  fig  tree  when  its  leaves  whisper 
"I  was  there."  (Gen.  8:7).  To  the  Jews  it  be- 
came a  symbol  of  plenty  (Deut.  8:  S;  Joel  2:  22; 
Habb.  i):  17).  Its  destruction  was  n  calamity. 
"Ho  hath  laid  my  vine  waste  and  barked  my  fig 
h'ee"  (Joel  1:  7).     Bethpage  near  Jerusalem  is 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


73 


SO  called  from  the  lau;  trees — "the  house  of  fij>s." 
One  fig  tree  withered  and  cursed  stands  out 
from  all  others,  as  an  object  lesson,  to  teach  the 
fatal  eifects  of  unimproved  possibilities.  ''  And 
seeinic  a  fig  tree  1)y  the  waysidis  Ho  (Jesus) 
came  to  it,  and  f(nind  nothing  thereon,  but  leaves 
only;  and  He  siitli  unto  it,  Let  there  be  no  fruit 
from  thee  henceforward  for  ever.  And  immedi- 
ately the  fig  tree  withered  away."    ( Matt.  21 :  19. ) 

Fir. 
This  word  as  employed  in  Scripture  must  be 
taken  in  its  more  general  meaning  in  which  it  is 
frequently  used.  It  includes  not  only  the 
"spruce  fir"  (abies)  and  the  "silver  fir"  (picea), 
of  which  the  Canadian  Balsam  (P.  balsamea)  is 
a  species:  but  also  all  the  other  coiiebearing 
trees  (abietinae).  Ge.senius  would  translate  the 
Hebrew  bcfoi^h  by  the  more  specific  name  of 
cypress.  The  true  firs  (abies)  are  not  found  in 
Palestine. 

Fitches. 

"  When  he  hath  viade  plain  the  face  thereof,  (Joth  he  not  cant 
abroad  the  FITCIIF.sr  Is.  ;?V.-  -J-,.  (In  thr  margin, 
^^ or  black  rtiminini'''  Xir/ella  Sativa") 

Gesenius  says  "  Ketsahli  .  .  .  accord- 
ing to  Septuagiiit,  Vulgate,  and  Rjibbins, 
nigella  melanthrum,  i.  o.  ])la('k  cummin."      See 


1) 

ii 


Bf 


f 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


cummin.     This  kind  was  harder   to   thresh — 
closer-fisted. 


I 


i!  !', 


'itil 


Flax. 

"But  she  had  brought  them  up  to  the  roof,  and  hid  them  with 
the  stalks  of  FLAX,  which  she  had  laid  in  order  upon 
the  roof."    Josh.  2 :6. 

^^  And  he  healed  them  all  .  .  .  that  it  might  be  fulfilled 
tvhich  teas  spoken  by  Isaiah  the  prophet,  saying  ,  .  , 
and  smoking  FLAX  shall  he  not  quench,  till  he  send 
forth  judgment  unto  victory."     Matt.  12:  15,  17,  20. 

*•  The  terms  flax  or  lint  are  employed  at  once 
to  denote  the  fibre,  so  called,  and  the  plant  from 
which  it  is  prepared.  The  flax  plant  (Linum 
usitatissimum )  belongs  to  the  Natural  Order 
Linaceae  ...  As  cultivated  it  is  an  annual, 
with  an  erect  stalk,  rising  to  a  height  of  from 
20  to  40  inches,  with  alternate,  sessile,  linear- 
lancelate,  branching  only  at  the  top  into  a 
corymbose  panicle  of  bright  blue  flowers  .  . 
The  cultivation  and  preparation  are  the  most 
ancient  of  all  textile  industries,  very  distinct 
traces  of  their  existence  during  the  stone  age 
being  preserved  to  the  present  day.  As  to  its 
application  at  this  early  period  Kellar  remarks 
'  Flax  was  the  material  for  making  lines  and 
nets  for  fishing  and  catching  wild  animals, 
cords  for  carrying  the  earthenware  vessels  and 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


75 


other  heavy  objects;  ia  fact  one  can  hardly 
imagme  how  navigation  could  be  carried  on  or 
the  lake  dwellings  themselves  be  erected  with- 
out the  use  of  ropes  and  cords  and  the  erecti(jn 
of  memorial  stones  .  .  .  would  be  altogether 
impracticable  without  the  use  of  strong  ropes.' 
The  preparation  of  the  fibre  as  conducted  in 
Egypt  is  illustrated  by  Pliny  who  says,  *  The 
stalks  themselves  are  immersed  in  water, 
warmed  by  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  are  kept 
down  by  weights  placed  upon  them  .  .  . 
The  membrane  or  rind  becoming  loose  is  a  sign 
of  their  being  sufficiently  macerated.  They 
are  then  taken  out  and  repeatedly  turned  over 
in  the  sun  until  perfectly  dried  and  afterwards 
beaten  by  mallets  on  stone  slabs.  That  which 
is  nearest  the  rind  is  called  stupa  (tow)  inferior 
to  the  inner  fibres  and  lit  only  for  the  wicks  of 
lamps.'  .  .  .  Flax  is  always  pulled  up  by 
the  roots  and  under  no  circumstances  is  it  cut 
or  shorn  like  cereal  crops  .  .  .  For  water 
retting  (described  by  Pliny,  as  above)  pure 
soft  water  is  essential  .  .  .  For  ordinary 
water-retting  flax  two  operations  are  required, 
hvst  breaking,  ami  t\ienticuichin(/  .  .  .  The 
breaking  is  done  by  passing  the  stalks  between 
grooved  rollers  to  which  in  some  cases  a   recip- 


3 

,1* 

I 


76 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


mi 


I 


»i  i'< 


Tocatm<j;  motion  is  communicated  an.l  tho 
broken  sliives  are  beaten  out  by  fiuspendiii;^^  the 
fibre  in  a  machine  fitted  with  a  scries  of  revolv- 
ing blades,  which  striking  violently  ngninst  the 
flax,  shake  out  the  bruised  and  broken  woody 
cores  .  .  .  Codilla  is  tho  tow,  or  broken 
and  ravelled  fibres  produced  in  this  .scutching 
l^rocess,  therefore  often  called  scutching  tow, 
vrliile  tow  proper  is  the  siniiliar  product  separ- 
ated in  the  subsequent  operation  of  heckling 
the  flax,  prejjaratory  to  spinning."  Brit.  Flax 
seed  and  the  oil  horn  it  (linseed  oil)  and  linen 
are  used  for  many  valuable  x)urpos'.  s. 

The  erect  stalk  and  ])right  blue  blo.^soms 
suggest  the  '"true  blue"  of  truth.  It  brooks 
no  crooked  ways,  pities  weakness  and  sympa- 
thizes with  every  loyal  effort  after  perfect  recti- 
tude. Some  are  loyal  on  Sabbath,  especially 
in  church.  Judging  from  their  demeanor  there 
one  might  think  they  were  saints  with  the  joy 
all  crushed  out  of  their  hearts  by  the  wicked- 
ness of  others.  Monday  morning  take  care,  for 
they  m?iy  not  bo  so  saintly  in  their  business 
dealings.  Not  so  the  flax.  Upright  every  day 
alike  with  its  fdiecrful  bright  blue  blossoms. 
Crooked  h!iIf-hoav*-"d  people  generally  have  the 
long  face   and    sanctimonious   manner.     What 


i  J 


WUISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


77 


the  world,  the  church,  what  Christ  wants  is  the 
cheerful,  inu'-hliic  Christian. 

With  flax  the  ancients  canglit  their  ii.sh. 
What  a  stronc^  net  truth  makes!  How  invisible 
the  line  yet  how  sure!  And  this  net  will 
gather  of  all  nations  and  cast  them  on  the 
shore  of  Eternity  to  be  picked  over  l)y  the 
great  Judge.  A  net  of  falsehood  Is  sure  to 
break  somewhere,  but  truth  never  gives  way. 
Flax  ropes  hold  the  sails,  we  too  need  "the 
stays  "  of  tiulli  as  we  sail  over  life's  sea  in  our 
frail  barque.  See  these  memorial  stones  being 
raised  to  their  places!  What  think  you  of  the 
work  of  flax?  There  is  nothing  which  so  raises 
mem oiial  stones  as  truth.  Its  v/ork  abides. 
And  the  Throne  of  Truth  is  eternal. 

In  x)reparing  flax  for  higher  uses  it  must  be 
kept  down  under  water  by  heavy  weights.  So 
people  often  need  to  be  kept  down  a  while  be- 
fore they  are  fit  to  get  up.  Nothing  so  mars 
excellence  as  "upishness."  Even  a  very 
excellent  person  becomes  obnoxious  if  he  is 
very  conceited  and  dogmatic.  Others  wish 
liberty  for  their  own  opinions.  Hence  we  need 
abase  self  if  we  wish  to  help  others;  and  if  we 
refuse  to  do  so  willingly,  God  often  puts  such  a 
galling  weight  upon  us  that  we  are  bowod  down 


l1 


■\  ;■  I 


fij 


:|  ISi 


I 


k 


11?      iiifll 


J!   * 


1] 


79 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


When  we  have  well  learned  the  lesson  God 
graciously  removes  the  burden  and  lifts  us  up 
"  Pride  goeth  before  destruction  and  a  haughty 
spirit  before  a  fall.  Better  it  is  to  be  of  a  lowly 
spirit  with  the  poor,  than  to  divide  the  spoil 
with  the  proud."  Prov  16:  18,  19.  Blessed  are 
the  meek  for  they  (not  the  proud)  shall  inherit 
the  earth."     (Matt.  5:  5.) 

Sometimes  even  more  then  humbling  is  nec- 
essary. After  the  "  retting "'  comes  the  "  break- 
ing "  and  the  "  scutching."  Pliny  beats  the  flax 
with  "  mallets  on  stone  slabs."  Modern  manu- 
facturers put  it  through  '"  a  mill."  The  hand  of 
Providence  often  seems  cruel.  Stone  slabs  in 
the  cemetery  speak  of  bruised  and  crushed 
hearts.  Reverses  in  business,  disappointments 
and  persecutions  are  sharp  blades  in  the  mill 
that  does  its  work  slowly  yet  surely.  The 
woody,  worthless  parts  of  human  nature  are 
thus  separated  from  the  fine  linen  of  God's  new 
creatures.  How  much  tliere  is  of  "  tow  "  in  our 
beings.  It  needs  much  "  scutching  "  to  pro- 
duce the  finest  fibre.  We  ought  to  be  willing 
to  endure  in  the  hope  of  the  "  glory  that  is  to 
be  revealed  in  us."  Even  the  "  tow  "  is  suitable 
for  wicks  to  burn  in  the  Light  Houses.  Our 
own  and  others  defects  ought  to  be  used  for 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


79 


beacon  lights,  drawing  their  power  from  the  oil 
of  God's  redeeming  grace. 

Like  flax,  truth  must  be  cnfm\  root  and 
branch.  So  many  make  a  mistake  by  clipping 
the  truth  which  is  thus  shorn  of  its  strength. 
A  Samson  thus  becomes  a  weakling.  Truth 
cannot  be  compromised  with  the  world,  without 
serious  injury.  The  great  curse  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  to-day,  is  shorndruth,  deformed 
Christians.  If  it  were  not  for  this,  the  largest 
gates  would  be  taken  off  their  hinges  and  carried 
away.  Nothing  could  withstand  their  mighty 
strength.     Souls  would  press  into  the  kingdom. 

Purity  must  go  with  truth.  If  flax  is  soaked 
in  water  made  impure  by  iron  or  lime,  its  fibre 
is  weakened.  Of  what  use  is  truth  if  soaked  in 
impurity  of  word  or  action? 

The  flax,  beautiful  in  life,  is  more  efficient 
after  its  life  is  destroyed.  Some  people's  lives 
die  before  them.  Others  at  their  death  but 
begin  to  live.  A  pebble  dropped  into  a  calm 
lake  sets  waves  in  motion  that  but  begin  when 
the  pebble  disappears.  Are  we  in  our  lives 
setting  good  forces  in  motion  that  will  widen 
their  spheres  after  we  are  numbered  with  the 
dead?  Look  at  Carey,  and  Duff,  and  Burns, 
and  Livinp'ston!    Above  all  look  at  the  greatest 


(     . 

r.i 


ilil 


p< 


80 


WHISPERING  LJ:AVES  OF  PALESTINE 


f' 


i; 
fi 


li 


if 

n 

1   i' 

•^'t 

,1  -'- 

1 

1  W  \ 

niJH 

H 

< 
1 

i 

of  Foreign  MissioJiaries— Christ!  Let  His  life 
be  our  iiiypiration.  His  death  our  comfort,  His 
resurrection  onr  hope,  and  His  intercession  at 
God's  ri.Lilii  hand  our  assurance. 

One  sialk  of  liax  is  but  little,  yet  from  many 
is  woven  the  fine  linen  of  angelic  costume. 
Mail}'  threads  make  a  cord  not  easily  broken. 
Then  let  us  not  despair,  but  unite  our  feeble 
efforts.  Work  hand  in  hand.  The  love  of  God 
is  our  bond  of  uiiioti.  Jesus  prays,  "That  they 
may  all  be  one;  even  as  Thou,  Father,  art  in 
me,  and  I  in  Thee,  that  they  also  may  be  in  Us: 
that  the  vorld  may  believe  tli.it  Thou  didst 
B(jnd  Me.  And  the  glory  which  Tlioa  hast 
given  Me  I  have  given  unto  them;  that  they 
may  be  one,  even  as  Wo  are  one;  I  in  them,  and 
Thou  in  Me,  that  they  may  bo  perfected  into 
one."  (John  17:  ^31,  22.  2:].)  What  says  that 
]>undlo  of  tlax  in  Jericho?  "We  hid  the  spies 
of  Joshua."  Truch  ever  protects  those  who  seek 
shelter  under  it.  With  trutJi  wo  lo<»  may  pro- 
tect otliers.  A  cobweb  spun  across  the  mouih 
of  a  cnve  just  after  the  fugitive  entered  turned 
aside  his  fierce  pursuers.  Plow  often  the  course 
of  our  livfs  has  been  changed  by  a  most  irifling 
incidont!  Let  ua  seek  to  turn  others  ia  the 
riyht  irai/.     Bunyan  overhe.-.  .1  the  convvU'sation 


'  1 1 


V>-niSPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


81 


of  some  women  talking  on  spiritual  matters  and 
he  was  turned  into  llie  channel  of  Truth.  Use 
liltle  things  as  sacredly  as  the  so  called  great 
chances  of  life.  Linen  of  the  fina^f  texture, 
with  140  thretids  to  the  inch,  adorned  kings  and 
priests.  It  is  regard  for  little  things  that  makes 
the  finest  lives.  And  our  little  acts  done  in  the 
right  spirit,  Christ  will  neither  disregard  or 
make  void.  **  For  whosoever  shall  give  you  a 
cup  of  water  to  drink,  because  ye  are  Christ'.^, 
verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  wise  lose 
his  reward."  (Mark  0:  41.)  "The  smoking 
ilax  shall  He  not  ([ucmch,  till  He  send  fortli 
judgment  unto  victory."'     (Matt.  12:  20.) 

Garlic. 


II 


'*  We  remember  the  fish,  which  we  did  eat  in  Efjypf  for 
nought;  the  cucumbers,  avd  the  melons,  aud  the  L^JEKS, 
and  the  ONIONS,  and  the  GAIiLIC"     Num.  It:  r,. 

Wo  have  mention  made  here  of  three  species 
of  (iJliinu.  The  garlic  is  allium  sativum;  t\v) 
leek,  a.  porrum;  and  the  imioii,  a.  cepa.  The 
Hebrew  word  for  leek  means  grass,  fiif  grass. 
Among  Celtic  CTernmn  ?nid  Slavonic  nations 
leek  was  the  primary  me?'iiing  of  '* succulent 
herb."'  (xarlic  means  the  clovt^i  le(»k,  <ind  onion 
the  undivided  leek.     All  have  u  cliMracteriHlic 


'111 


■,«i 


II! 


m 


v,iiisr'ERi:;a  leaves  or  rAT.r,STi:;E 


odor.  TIio  leok  is  the  mildv5st  of  tlio  three; 
and  the  oiiiou  comes  Uijxt  in  stron,L,4h.  Thoy 
ure  tlio  most  wholesome  of  vegeta])les  and  arc 
iis<m1  modieiiiidly.  Garlics  possi^as  biiuiulaiit 
and  Btomachic  properties.  Garlics  and  leinoii 
juice  have  been  used  for  diphtlieria.  The  leek 
is  the  badLce  of  the  AVelsh  who  wear  it  in  their 
hats  on  St.  DiiviiVs  Day.  The  Jews  seem  never 
to  liavo  lost  their  likini.'j  for  the  j^arlic  and  the 
leeks  and  the  onions  acquired  in  ELJ-ypt. 

Islaiiy  Avhol('som(»  truths  are  not  pleasant. 
S(»me  do  Dol  eat  onions  becaus(i  of  their  oiTen- 
sivn  odor,  th()UL>;li  they  know  they  are  \vJi(/le- 
some.  So  many  will  not  receive  a  truth  into 
their  hearts  unless  it  is  a  ph'asant  one.  It  is 
hardly  iiect^ssary  to  say  that  tlie  most  pleasant 
tliintrs  are  jj^enerally  tlie  least  profitable.  Can- 
(iies,  pastri<>s,  and  hii;h  livni;j:  while  agreeaV>h 
to  the  palate  are  detrimental  to  health.  Plain 
diet,  though  at  tiist  less  palatable,  conduces  to 
he.'dth  and  long  life.  So  plain  truths  plainly 
nerved  are  the  most  wholeBomc  Often  it  if 
the  bitter  medicine  tliat  cures.  No  mediciiu'  is 
harder  to  inko  than  ihe  Trntli.  1  am  a  lost  din- 
ner. drs(nTiiig  tli('  jumishment  of  Hell.  Rut  it 
i.l  (Miiv   Vilirn   lliis  is  iaken  that    tlie    soul   can 


WHISPERING-  LEAVES  CF  TALESTINE 


a3 


havo  the  new  jo3"ous  life  tliat  is  in  Christ  Jesiio, 
our  Saviour. 

Gopher  Wood. 

'-  Make  thee  an  arJ:  of  CxOPHER  wnocir     Gen.  r,:  11. 

Gesenius  says  the  Hebrew  jj^oplior  means  lit- 
erally "  i)itc'li-wood,  such  as  tli!^  pino.  Ilr. 
cypres:-;,  cedar,  and  other  trees  oi  a  like  kind, 
used  in  shipbuildini^  —  probably  tl)'^^  eyp.rcss." 
Both  our  modern  versions  of  the  Bible  leav(;  llio 
word  untranslated. 


n 


Heath. 


Thuti  saifh  the  Lord:  Ctirspd  is  the  man  thitt  tniritcJh  i.i 
Dutii,  and  viakcth  Jli'sh  hbi  arm,  and  whose  hi'tirf  dc- 
piirleth  from  the  Lord,  For  he  shall  be  like  the  I  IK.  1  77/ 
in  the  di'serf,  and  sliall  not  see  ichi'ii  nood  ctuni-tJi ;  imt 
shall  inhabit  the  parched  places  in  the  icildrm.ss,  a 
s(tlt  hind  and  not  inhabited.''^     Jcr.  17:  '>,  <i. 

Th's  does  not  mean  the  purple  heatli  of  Seot- 
land,  but  soDie  desert  plant  icrowiu:^  nc.!-  tlif 
Dead  Sea.  The  Helirow  name  (irorr  is  Troi:! 
Ihe  root  ar(U'  aiixndyin^j;  uiiked,  i'or)«irn.  alo 
ruins.  In  Jor.  48:  0  *■  Be  likt^  tln^ /Vv^///  in  tlie 
wildernosB,"  ihe  iiuirL;in  of  the  .Aulhorif^ifd 
Versjion  ^ivGs '' or  a  n-iked  In^e."  Thly  soeiu  < 
ai)out  nil  that  is  known  of  this  wood.  It  nriy 
lijive  boon  ap[>lied  to   Wvuuo   cmo   of    tho    many 


I- 


'ii 


,,1)  .If. 

i  ;'■ 

I        'I' 

la 


'l' 


jiii' 

'ij! 
1    ! 


!■         ! 


1  84 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


•  stunted  shrubs  of  tbo  wilderness  in  the  neisj^h- 
boi  hood  of  the  Dead  Sea,  or  it  may  have  had 
only  a  {general  signification. 

What  a  picture  of  some  "  forlorn"  ones!  They 
have  served  self  and  the  world  all  their  life; 
find  in  their  old  age  they  are  f(jrsaken  by  their 
friends,  respected  by  none,  a  scorn  and  con- 
tempt to  many,  a  pitiless  prey  to  Death  physi- 
cal and  spiritual.  How  terriJDle  the  woo  of  tho 
forsaken  of  God  and  man!  The  ejirth  becomes 
"  a  grerit  howling  wilderness  "  on  the  borders  of 
tlie  Sea  of  the  Doad. 

Hemlock. 

«•  Therefove.  jud{imcnl  sprivfjefh  up  as  HEMLOCK  in  (ho  fur- 
rowii  of  the  Jieiay     Hos.  10:1. 

Tn  Deut.  20:  18,  the  same  Hebrew  word 
ro.s//  is  translated  "gall;"  in  Amos  5:  7,  worm- 
wood. The  margin  adds  *'  a  poisonous  lierb." 
(lesenius  thinks  it  refers  to  tho  y;f>//;;/y  so  Ccdhnl 
from  its  hccuh,  for  ros/t  primarily  moans  a 
licad.  No  nnitter  what  rosh  morals,  its  nature 
js  di'Bcribcd  for  us.  It  is  an  embh^m  of  sin. 
1 1  springs  up  everywhere  in  the  hearts  culti\at- 
ed  by  tho  Spirit  of  God.  It  is  like  the  seed  of 
weeds  lying  in  the  soil  only  awaiting  the  plough- 
alinre.     Though  ph'iisant  to  th(^  sight,  it  is  bit- 


'.:     •• 


'V\Jii>.rElii:sG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


H5 


toi-  as  j^all,  poisonous  as  hemlock,  and  poppy 
liQadod.  The  only  antidote  is  tha  love  of  God 
in  tJiG  soul. 


>rd 
m- 

Ui 

a 
lire 
\\n. 
ivt- 
of 
■'i;h- 
bit". 


Husks 

^Aiul  he  vjo>.dtl  faux  have  been  filled  with  the  HUSKS  (mi)'  - 
(jiii,  Greek,  ihe23ods  ofthecuroh  tree)  that  the  tiwine  diii 
vat:  and  no  man  gave  unto  /zim."  Luke  15:  JO. 

The  Greek  kcrafion  moans  a  little  horn;  then 
aj)plied  to  the  pods  of  the  carob  tree,  from  their 
nhape.  The  lexico,<j:rapher  Robinson  says, 
"  The  carob  tree.  Arabaic  kliarab,  Gr.  Kerateia, 
the  eeratonia  silicpia  of  Linn.  Germ.  Johiin- 
nisbrodbaum,  is  common  in  Syria  and  in  t'he 
soathcrn  parts  of  Europe,  and  sometimes  j^rows 
very  lMr<^t\  It  produces  Ioiil?,  slender  [)ods, 
slinped  like  a  liorn  or  sickle,  containinij  a 
sweetish  pulp  and  several  small,  brow, i,  shinin^jj 
see  Is  like  beans.  Tliese  pods  are  sometimes 
eii;'ht  or  ten  inclie.^  lonsj^  ami  a  Hn!j:er  broad. 
Tliey  are  eaten  with  relish  l)y  th«»  poorer  classes 
in  the  East;  and  swine  ;ire  often  le-'  npon 
them."  '*  Under  the  name  of  Carob  beans  or 
locusts,  the  leufume  of  Ceratoria  sili(piii  is  culti- 
vated on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean  imd 
used  as  food  for  cattle.  The  shells  of  the  can^b 
bean  contain  a  larj^e  proportion  of  su^^ir  and 


M 

! 


fi6 


Wl-IIKrElUNG   UE/VVKS  Ol''  rAuFSriXE 


lii 


are  often  consumed  ks  .'i  tluiaty  hy  ^-liildren. 
These  beans  woro  i'(jr:iieriy  Buppofu"!  to  ]io  the 
locusts  eaten  by  John  the  B:i])li,st  ;:ud  hence 
have  been  called  St.  John's  Bread.  Tiio  storilo 
plains  and  mountains  of  Chili  produc-o  the  car- 
ob  tree  which  in  doiiance  of  a  boiliii;'  sun 
stretches  out  its  spacious  linil)s,  covered  witli 
foliat^e,  forming  an  agreeable  retreat  to  the 
weary  traveller  by  day  as  well  as  by  ni-.cht.  . 
The  locust  tree  is  of  the  Order  Legmiiiiios.G. 
It  differs  from  all  leguminous  plaid>s  oy  the 
dilated  disk  to  the  calyx.  .  .  .  The  legume 
is  compressed,  ofteii  curved,  indehiscenl,  and 
coriaceous,  but  witli  sweet,  pulpy  divisions 
between  the  seeds  which  as  in  otlier  genera  of 
the  cassieae  are  albuminous.  .  .  .  The  car- 
ob  tree  was  regarded  by  Hprengel  as  the  tree 
with  which  iMoses  sweetened  the  bitter  waiters 
of  Marali  (Ex.  15:  25).  as  the  Kh  irrub  according 
to  Avic(mna  has  the  property  oL*  sweetening  salt 
and  l)itter  waters."  —  Brit. 

That  the  locust  tree  yields  frnit  which  is  eat- 
en by  man  and  be^'st  is  a  whoh^Fiome  truth. 
Our  bodies  are  akiti  to  the  cattle  that  eat  grass; 
yes,  even  to  the  pig  that  wallows  in  the  mire. 
We  are  as  dependmit  upon  food  as  they;  and 
wheat,  oats,  buckwheat,  etc.,  are  as  good  food 


WllISrERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


87 


for  them  as  for  us.  It  is  true  tiiat  vv^o  have  also 
a  hi<i:her  nature  which  resjuires  angels'  fooil, 
even  the  food  of  God  ^vhiLb.  is  love.  But  it 
would  be  well  for  sonio  t(3  think  nioro  on  this 
subject,  how  much  yve  are  like  tlio  beasts  tliiit 
perish.  The  man  or  v^'oniau  that  is  svv'aycd  by 
the  feelings  and  desires  of  the  body  is  very 
much  like  the  lower  animals.  How  piggisli 
some  are!  How  like  hyenas  others!  Do  you 
not  knov/  one  like  tt  "siiake  in  the  grass"? 
The  stubborn  mule  has  his  laiina.i  counterpart. 
Some  youngsters  bawl  like  calves.  Even  grown 
persor.s  ape  the  struUir.g  gobbler.  They  look 
down  upon  their  fellowmen  who  have  less  mon- 
ey, or  less  learning,  or  less  refinement  tn.au 
iliey.  They  have  high  thoughts  of  themselves. 
To  sucli  the  locust  tree  v/hispers,  ''  1  ])rovide 
tln'  swine  with  food  good  enough  for  you! 
Thc'ij  eat  it  with  gratitude  and  do  nut  pride 
th'  b'es  on  being  better  tlian  toads.  You 
are  ;i  poor,  miserable  .^liiinor  wallowing  in  tlio 
mire  of  your  self  conceit.  Vou  indeed  have  a 
higher  nature  but  you  have  degraded  it.  You 
have  about  as  mucli  true  generosity  as  the 
swine,  thervifore  von  are  not  as  desi'rviiig  as 
they.  Measure  Hves  V)y  ability  and  <»i)i)ortuni- 
ties."    The  man  that  cultivates  his  Inwcr  nature 


I  ^ 


II 


il' 


"II 


18 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


becomes  more  like  the  lower  animals;  but  he 
who,  realizing  his  affinity  to  what  is  lov/v^r, 
humbles  himself  and  seeks  grace  from  God  to 
cultivate  his  higher  nature  becomes  more  lik(^ 
God. 

The  Greek  name  meaning  horn  suggests  the 
"  horn  of  plenty,*'  which  idea  its  abundant  fruit 
enforces.  Its  fruit  is  not  the  choicest  but  it 
does  the  best  it  can  and  yields  a  large  supj^ly. 
There  ere  not  many  Jirst  rate  carpenters;  but 
all  ought  to  do  the  best  they  can  and  as  much 
as  they  can.  Some  work  merely  to  "  put  in  the 
time"  So  it  is  with  many  Christians.  They 
say  "  I  cannot  do  first  rate  work  for  Christ.  I 
am  of  stammering  lips.  I  lack  tact  and  wisdom. 
It  is  no  use  for  me  to  try."  What  nonsense! 
Do  the  host  you  can  and  do  all  you  can.  God 
expects  no  more  than  your  best.  Ahil'dy  is  ///s 
gift;  the  use  of  it  is  yoiivfi.  The  locust  tree 
says  "  I  cannot  bear  grapes  or  gravensteins,  but 
such  as  I  liave  I  will  give  yowfrcchj.'^ 

The  bean  is  surrounded  by  a  sweet  pulp. 
This  maizes  the  bean  more  agreeable.  When 
we  have  to  tell  unpleasant  truths,  it  is  well  to 
put  a  little  "  sweet  pulp  "  about  them.  There 
is  no  harm  in  the  sugar  coating  of  a  bitter  pill. 
The  beans  of  truth  will  often  bo  received  if 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


89 


served  thus;  whereas  they  vvould  be  rejected  if 
offered  without  "  pulp."     The  i^ulp  of  the  carob 
bean  is  also  nutritious,  with  its  sugar  and  its 
albumen.     Never  sweeten  truth  with  falsehood 
but  with  other  truth  that  is  '•  pleasant  to  take." 

When  the  Prodigal  Son  in  that  far  away  land 
Would  have  liked  to  have  eaten  the  food  of  the  swine 
But  could  not,  he  thus  showed  to  us  all  his  dire  need 
And  the  deptli  of  his  fall  from  his  father  and  home; 
But  his  mind  and  his  spirit  had  suffered  tlie  most 
And  they  craved  the  fond  love  and  the  fatherly  care, 
And  'twas  when  he  returned  to  tl\e  home  of  his  youth 
Ho  taught  Ks  to  return  to  our  God  and  rejoice. 

Hyssop. 

*^ Ptinic,  me  wiih  HYSSOP,  and  I  shall  be  clean:  wash  met 
(Hid  I  shall  be  loliiler  than  snotv.'^  /V.  51 :  7. 

As  iini)lied  by  this  utterance  of  the  Psalmist, 
the  hyssop  v/as  much  used  by  the  Jews  for 
sprinkling  in  their  sacred  rites.  '"Under  this 
name  (ezob)  the  Hebrews  appear  to  have  com- 
prised not  only  the  common  hyssop  of  the 
shops  but  also  other  aromatic  plants,  especially 
mint,  wild  majoram,  etc."  Ges.  It  must  have 
been  a  small  herb  as  wo  see  in  I  Kings  4:  83, 
where  we  are  told  that  Solomon  "spake  of  trees, 
from  the  cedar  that  is  in  Lebanon  even  unto 
tlib   hy,«sop  that  springeth   out  of  the  wall." 


!   ' 


n 


1 1 


;i 


I 


;.  m 


90 


WHISPERING  LP:AVES  OF  PALESTINE 


Hyssop  (Hyssopiis  officinalis)  r  i^irdtn  lua-b 
belonglntif  to  tlie  Natural  Order  Labiatae,  culti- 
vated for  use  in  domestic;  mediciuo  .  .  . 
is  an  evero^reen  suffructicose  labiate  plant 
.  .  .  It  is  a  small  perennial  about  two  feet 
hijj^h  witli  slender,  quadraniijular  woody  stems: 
narrowly  elliptical  pointed,  entire  dotted  leaves 
about  one  inch  lon<^,  one-third  iiicli  wide.  <;row- 
iuLC  in  pairs  on  the  stem;  and  lon.L^  terminal, 
erect,  half  verticillate,  leafy  spikes  of  small  vio- 
let=bluo  flowers  which  are  in  blossom  from 
June  to  Se})tember.  Two  varieties  of  the  plant 
occur  in  .;;ardens,  one  havinsjj  varieii^nted  leaves 
and  the  other  reddish  flowers.  The  leaves  have 
a  warm  nromatic  Intter  taste  ...  a  stron«j: 
tea  made  of  the  leaves  and  sweetened  with  hoii- 
ey  was  f(3rmerly  used  in  pulmonary  nnd catarrh- 
al affections,  and  externally  as  an  application  to 
bruises  and  indolent  swellinp^s."     Brit. 

The  first  truth  to  sugti^est  itself  is  the  sacred 
uses  of  the  hyssop.  Just  before  the  depnrtuio 
of  tlie  Jews  from  Egypt  "Moses  called  for  all 
the  elders  of  Israel,  and  said  unto  them,  Draw 
out,  and  take  you  lambs  according  to  your  fami- 
lies, and  kill  the  Passover.  And  ye  shall  take  a 
bunch  of  Jnjsi^oj),  and  dip  it  in  the  blood  that  is 
in   tlie  bason,   and   strik(>   the   lintel   and   the 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINF. 


01 


two  side  posts,  with  the  blood  that  is  in  the 
bason;  and  none  of  you  shall  j^^o  out  of  tlio 
the  door  of  his  house  until  the  morning."  (Ex. 
12:  21,  22)  "Then  shall  the  priest  coramini.l 
to  take  for  the  leper  that  is  to  be  cleansed  two 
living  clean  birds,  and  cedar  wood,  and  scark^t, 
and  husso2)y  (Lev.  14:  4)  "And  he  shall  take 
to  cleanse  the  house  two  birds,  and  cedar  vrood, 
and  scarlet,  and  hyssoi^.'''  (14:  49.)  lu  tho 
sacrifice  of  the  "red- heifer,*'  "the  priest  shall 
take  cedar  wood  and  hjjssoi),  ^^^  scarlet,  and  c;i.st 
it  into  the  midst  of  the  burning  of  the  heifer." 
(Num.  19:  6.)  And  when  a  person  dies  in  a 
tent  "a  clean  person  shall  take  hijssop,  and  dip 
it  in  the  water,  and  .sprinkle  it  upon  the  tent,  and 
upon  all  the  vessels,  and  upon  the  pereons  that 
were  there,  and  upon  him  that  touched  the  \hWAi, 
or  the  slain,  or  the  dead,  or  tho  grave."  (Nun]. 
19:  18.)  "There  was  set  there  a  vessel  full  oi 
vinegar:  so  they  put  a  sponge  full  of  tho  vino- 
gar  upon  ////.s,so|),  and  brought  it  to  liis  mouth.' 
(John  19:  29.)  Perhaps  no  plant  mentioned  in' 
the  Bible  suggests  more  forciljly  the  all  Impor- 
tant matter  of  consrcrafioif.  In  life  wo  see 
some  who  consecrate  the  Sabbath  to  Gol  ;iiid 
the  other  six  days  of  tho  week  to  self  and  the 
devil.     Others    consecrate    their    tongue    and 


Y 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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\:-3         VYUlSPEKIJsG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


desecrate  their  lives.  Others  still  are  desultory 
in  their  practice.  Now  and  again  they  try 
to  tlo  Bomething  for  God.  Paul  upholds  the 
hyssop,  "  Whatsoever  ye  do,  in  word  or  in  deed, 
do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus."  (Col. 
ii'.n.)  Again  in  writing  to  the  Romans  (12: 
1 )  he  says  "  I  beseech  you  therefore,  brethren, 
by  the  mercies  of  God,  to  present  your  bodies 
a  lin'nfj  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God, 
which  is  your  reasonable  service." 

How  wonderful  are  the  healing  properties  of 
consecration!  The  blood  becomes  purified. 
The  weak  muscle  is  t^ade  strong.  The  lungj 
of  faith  become  healthy  and  active,  ever  breath- 
ing Ihe  name  of  Jesus  in  i)rayer.  Bruises 
received  from  our  fcllowmen  are  healed;  and 
the  sores  of  sin  disaj^poar.  In  this  way  alone 
can  we  always  have  a  supply  of  the  balm  of 
Gilead.  The  heaviness  and  listlessness  of  spir- 
itual dyspepsia  gives  way  before  the  cheerful 
hope  and  activity  of  health.  The  cold  heart 
glows  with  love  divine. 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


9S 


"Is  thy  cruse  of  comfort  wasting,  rise  and  shore  it 

with  another; 
And  through  all  the  years  of  famine  it  ehnll  servo 

thee  and  thy  brother. 
Love  divine  will  fill  thy  storehouse  or  thy  haudful 

still  renew; 
Scanty   fare  for  one  will  often  make  a  royal  fea.*t 

for  two. 

'*  For  the  heart  grows  rich  in  giving,  nJi  its  wenlfli  is 
living  grain; 
Seeds  which  nnldew  is  the  gnrnor,  scattered  fill  Vi'it!; 

gold  the  plain. 
la  thy  burden  hard  and  heavy?     Do  thy  pteps  drr.j' 

nrpttrily  ? 

Iit\^  'o  bear  thy  brother's  burden;  (lod  will  bear 
both  it  and  thee. 


"Numb  and  weary  on  the  mountains  wouldst  thou 

sleep  amid  the  snow? 
Chafe  that  frozen  form  beside  thee  and  togethei' 

both  shall  go. 
Art  thou  stricken  in  life's  battle?     Many  v/onndei' 

round  thee  moan; 
Lavish  on  their  wounds  thy  balsams  and  fhnl  bnlni 

shall  heal  thine  own. 


'*  Is  the  heart  a  well  left  empty?     None  but   (Jod  its 

void  can  fill; 
Nothing  but  a  ceaseless  fountain  can  it.-,  roasclef..'' 

longing  still; 
Is   the       mrt   a  living    power?     Self   entwined    il:< 

strength  sinks  low; 
It  can  only  live  in  loving  and  by  serving  love  will 


grow. 


AM  IV, 


H 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  IMLESTIXE 


I 


'  Take  my  lifo  and  lot  il  bo 
Consecrated  Lord  to  thee; 
Take  my  moment.s  and  my  days, 
Let  them  flow  in  ceiiKelesH  prnine. 

Take  ray  hnuds  and  let  them  movo 
At  the  impulse  of  thy  love; 
Take  my  feet  and  let  tliem  bo 
Swift  and  beautiful  for  thes. 

Take  my  voice  and  let  me  wing 
Always  only  for  my  Ki!i,%': 
Take  niy  lips  and  let  thorn  be 
Filled  with  messages  fi-oni  Thee. 

Take  my  silver  and  iiiy  f^old; 
Not  a  mito  would  I  with  liold: 
Take  my  intellect  and  use 
Every  power  as  thou  shult  chpose. 


Take  my  will  and  make  it  thine; 
It  shall  be  no  I()ii;;i;r  mine: 
Take  my  heart  it  is  thine  own, 
It  shall  be  thy  royal  throne. 

Take  my  love;  ray  Lord  I  pour 
At  thy  feet  its  treasure  store: 
Take  myself  and  I  will  bo 
Ever,  only,  all  for  thee.'' 

F.    B.    RATBROAIi. 


■-' i 


^\HISPERINQ  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


05 


Juniper. 

"  And  he  lay  ihmn  avd  slcjd  vnder  a  JUNIPER  trve  {mar- 
gin or  BROOM);  ttml  behold  an  anyel  touch^'d  him, 
and  said,  arise  aud  eitty     1  Kimjn  1915. 

'*  They  pluck  .saltivurl  by  the  bushrs  and  the  roots  of  Iha 
BROOM  are  their  meat:^    Job  30:4. 

''  Sharp  arrows  of  the  mighty  with  coals  of  JUNIPER  {or 
BROOM).    Ps.  120:4. 

The  Hebrew  word  (rothem)  iranslated  juni- 
per in  the  Authorized  Vorsic-n,  nnd  partly  also 
in  the  Revi.-ed,  rrceivos  its  name  from  the  idta 
of  himliiKj.  Gisoniusnays:  "Rothem  is  goncsta; 
broom,  Spartium;  junceum,  Linn;  u  shrub 
growing  in  the  desert  of  Arabia  with  whitish 
flowers  and  bitter  roots,  which  the  Arabs  regard 
as  yielding  the  best  charcoal."  It  is  a  beauti- 
ful and  fragrant  plant,  called  by  the  Arahs 
retem  or  rit'm.  It  grows  tight  or  ten  foot  high 
and  affords  a  pleasant  but  not  dense  shade  in 
the  sands  of  the  desert. 

It  affords  shade  where  most  needed — amid  the 
burning  sands.  A  lHUe  ()ji})orfinir  help  i.-?  but- 
ter than  nnich  that  is  not  nooded.  Some  jieoj^le 
are  always  ready  to  help  the  prosperous  and 
popular.  To  these  they  give  fine  dinners  and 
exponsive  presents.  What  virtue  is  there  in 
this?    "Do  not  even  the  ])ublicanM  the  fame?" 


r 


nc 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


I 


(Matt.  5:46.)  They  give  because  they  expect 
a  return.  It  is  often  a  waste,  a  sinful  abuse  of 
the  property  God  entrusts  to  them.  The  Bible 
warns  us  against  giving  to  the  rich.  "  He  that 
oppresseth  the  poor  to  increase  his  gain,  and  he 
Ihat  giveth  to  the  rich,  cometh  only  to  want." 
(Prov.  22:16.)  What  is  praiseworthy  is  giving 
to  the  needy.  When  a  person  is  unpopular  or 
unable  to  make  any  return,  give  him  out  of  the 
fullness  of  your  heart.  "  A  friend  iu  need  is  a 
friend  indeed."  Jesus  set  us  an  example:  "I 
came  not  to  call  the  righteous  but  sinners." 
(Matt.  9:13.) 

Rothem  means  "  the  binder."  Some  people 
are  like  gunpowder.  They  separate  chief 
friends,  and  wherever  they  go  they  stir  up  strife. 
Others  are  peacemakers.  They  soothe  the  irri- 
tfited  nerves  and  explain  misunderstandings. 
Elijah  slept  under  the  broom  and  felt  better  for 
it.  Would  that  we  all  had  at  least  a  branch  of 
it  in  our  homes. 

Its  coals  are  the  hottest.  Hot  coals  are  not 
put  on  others'  heads  often  enough.  The  hotter 
they  are  the  better.  *-  If  thine  enemy  hunger, 
feed  him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  to  drink:  for  in 
so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his 
head."     (Rom.  12:20.) 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


07 


How  beautiful  and  fragrant  is  the  broom! 

But  better  far  its  shade,  its  meaning,  and  its  heat! 
And  HO  tho  soul  that  cools  the  fevered  brow 

Is  lovelier  than  fashion's  doll  with  vain  conceit. 


Lentils. 

^^  And  Jacob  gave  Esau  bread  and  potiage  of  LENTILS; 
and  he  did  eat  and  drink  and  rose  up  and  tvent  his 
his  tvay;  so  Esau  despised  his  birthright."  Gen.  23:34. 

"  Adashim,  len tiles,  a  kind  of  pulse  resembling 
small  beans,  used  chiefly  by  the  poor."     Ges. 

"  Lentils,  the  seed  of  lens  esculenta,  mcinch, 
a  small  annual  of  the  vetch  tribe.  The  plant 
varies  from  six  to  eighteen  inches  in  height  and 
hfiH  many  long  ascending  branches.  The  leaves 
are  alternate  with  six  x)airs  of  oblong,  linear, 
obtuse,  mucronate  leaflets.  The  flowers,  two  or 
four  in  number,  are  of  a  pale  blue  color,  and  are 
borne  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves,  on  a  slender 
footstalk  equalling  the  leaves  in  length;  they 
are  produced  in  June  or  early  in  July.  The 
pods  are  about  one-half  inch  long,  broadly  ob- 
long, slightly  inflated  and  contain  two  seeds, 
which  are  the  shape  of  a  double  convex  lens, 
and  about  one-sixth  inch  in  diameter.  . 
In  Enj;lish  commerce  two  kinds  only  of  lentils 
are  principally  met  with,  viz:  the  French  and 
tho  Egyptian.     .     .     .     Lentils  keep  best  in  the 


1 1 ;  ;i 


98 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


husk,  Ko  far  as  flavor  is  concerned,  and  will  keep 
good  in  this  way  for  two  years,  either  for  sowing 
or  for  food.  ...  A  Hindoo  proverb  says: 
"  Rice  is  good,  but  lentils  are  my  Ufe."  But  in 
England  they  have  been  reputed  difficult  of  di- 
gestion and  apt  to  disorder  the  bowels  and  in- 
jure the  sight.  ...  A  few  years  ago  some 
cases  of  the  poisoning  of  pigs  were  traced  to  the 
use  of  the  seed  of  this  plant  in  their  food." 
(Brit.) 

When  first  we  meet  with  the  lentil  in  the 
Bible  it  is  an  accomplice  with  Jacob  in  the  be- 
trayal of  Esau  to  his  hunger.  It  was  a  cowardly 
conspiracy.  The  leaves  are  inflated.  Behold 
the  hypocrite  and  the  "dude"  inflated  with 
self-conceit.  In  spite  of  the  use  of  the  "lens" 
they  aro  "  obtuse"  to  solid  truth.  If  lentils  poi- 
son pigs  they  are  not  to  be  trusted;  yet  Hin- 
doos and  others  make  them  their  food.  Some 
people  make  lies  their  food  and  rejoice  in  poi- 
sonous thoughts.  In  2  Sam.  23:11  we  meet  the 
lentils  again  in  the  plot  of  ground  where  the 
Philistines  routed  the  Israelites.  There  are 
persons  who  are  always  to  be  found  where  there 
is  fuiy  fi;^diting.  They  revel  in  it.  And  they 
are  of  about  us  much  use  as  lentilH.    You  can- 


WHI8PE11INO  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


00 


•V 


not  tell  whether  they  help  most  the  rijj:ht  or  the 
wrong. 

Lily. 

"  /  am  a  rose  of  Sharon, 
A  LILY  of  the  valleys:*    So^.g  of  S.  2:1. 
"  Consider  the  LILIES  of  the  fields  how  they  grow;  they  toil 
not,  neither  do  they  spin;  yet  I  say  unto  yoii,  that  eivjj 
Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed  like  one  of 
these:'     Matt.e.2R,29. 

According?  to  Gesenius  the  Hebrew  *' shosan 
is  a  lily  (Gr.  Krinon)  j^rowing  wild  in  Palestine 
and  the  adjacent  regions  in  fields  and  pastures. 
.  .  .  The  oriental  lily  is  of  various  colors 
OBpecially  white  and  cerulean ;  but  in  Canticles 
(5:3)  the  lips  are  compared  with  lilies,  proba- 
bly red  or  purple."  In  Britannica  we  read 
''Lily,  lilium,  the  typical  genus  of  Liliaceae, 
embrace  s  nearly  fifty  species,  all  confined  to  the 
Northern  Hemisphere.  .  .  .  The  structure 
of  the  lily  is  of  simple  type,  consisting  of  two 
whorls  of  three  parts  each,  six  free  stamens, 
and  a  consolidated  pistil  of  three  carpels,  ripen- 
ing into  a  three  valved  capsule  containing  many 
winged  seeds.  In  form  the  flower  assumes  three 
types: — trumpet  shaped  with  a  more  or  less 
elongated  tube.  e.  g.  L.  longiflorum  and  L.  can- 
didum;   an  open  form  with  spreading  perianth 


!; 


t'i' 


■■'i  1  ■ 


n 
j.i 


^4 


iJ 


100        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 

leaves,  e.  uj.  L.  auratura;  or  assuming  a  pendu- 
lous habit,  with  the  lips  strongly  reflexed,  e.  g. 
the  marta^on  type.  All  have  scaly  bulbs  which 
in  three  Wost-American  species,  as  L.  Hum- 
boldti  are  remarkable  for  being  somewhat  in- 
termediate between  a  bulb  and  a  creeping  rhi- 
zome. .  .  .  The  lily  of  the  Old  Testament 
(shoshan)  may  be  conjectured  to  be  a  red  lily 
fri)!n  the  simile  in  Canticles  1:  13  unless  the  il- 
lusion iii,  to  the  fragrnnee  rather  than  to  the  col- 
or ot  the  lips,  in  which  case  the  white  lily  must 
be  thought  of.  The  lilies  of  the  field  Matt.  6: 
28,  are  Kriua  and  the  comparison  of  their  beau- 
ty witii  royal  robes  suggests  their  identification 
with  the  Syrian  lily  of  Pliny.  Lilies  are  not 
however  a  consincuous  feature  in  the  glory  of 
Palestine,  and  the  red  anemone  (anemone  coro- 
naria)  with  which  all  the  hillsides  of  Galilee  are 
dotted  in  the  spring  is  perhaps  more  likely  to 
have  suggested  the  figure.  ...  In  the  mid- 
dle ages  the  flower  continued  to  be  common 
and  was  taken  as  the  symbol  of  heavenly  purity. 
The  three  golden  lilies  of  France  are  said  to 
liiive  been  originally  three  lance  heads.'' 

We  cannot  expect  the  names  of  plants  in  the 
Bible  always  to  refer  to  pnrtieular  species.  Very 
often  they  iMclude  the  whole  genus  and  even  at 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        101 


times  the  wliolo  family.  When  our  Saviour 
draws  a  lesson  from  the  "'lilies  of  the  field,''  He 
doubtless  referred  to  all  the  flowers  thfit  there 
elotlud  the  earth  with  a  beauty  exceediv!;-  that 
of  Solomon's  robes.  Jesus  used  the  lanj^uaj::;' 
of  ilu^  common  people. 

The  lily  is  used  as  a  .symbol  of  the  trutli  and 
of  him  who  says  "  I  niu  tlie  truth."  Ho'.v  ir.od- 
est  are  many  forms  of  the  lily,  especiMlly  the 
Lily  of  the  Valley!  Yet  how  i)eautiful  and  how 
fragrant!  Other  species  are  famed  for  their 
brightness  and  regal  splendor.  All  are  "of  sim- 
j)le  structure."  True  worth  neids  no  tinsel. 
The  truly  wealthy  often  dress  plainly,  but  those 
who  "  ape"  them  adorn  themselves  with  expen- 
sive and  senseless  "finery."  Those  who  live 
pure  and  useful  lives  need  no  buUelin  boards 
nor  newspaper  "puffs."  The  hypocrites  and 
vainglorious  nobodies  have  to  resort  to  compli- 
cated intrigues.  The  use  upon  their  characters 
the  powder  and  paint.  Behold  the  lily  in  its 
purity  and  simplicity ! 

The  lilies  "many  winged  seeds"  are  very 
nutritious  spiritually.  What  the  world  needs  is 
icinrjcd 'irviih.  Perishing  souls  need  the  wing- 
ed Gospel.  This  truth  of  God  flies  to  the  very 
epot  that  needs  it.    The  aching  heart,  the  jier- 


\ 


\ 


v 


102         WHI§i?ERING  LKAVES  OF  PALESTINi: 


l^lexed  mind,  tlio  tprmeiited  (Mjiipcience  jjjladly 
welcome  the  bonk  that  brings  the  cruiiil)  of  com- 
fort. Its  troubles  uro  the  windows  tlirout^'li 
which  the  truth  often  cnU  hi,  the  soul.  Is  our 
life  a  bearer  of  comfort  and  liorj^?  See  the  Gos- 
pel as  it  flies  to  nnd  fro  over  th^. face  of  thf 
waters,  carrying  its  nn^ssages  of  love  t'e..  the  isles 
that  wait  for  God.  See  it  passing  ovw  the 
prairie,  the  mountains!  Even  the  great  *"Ghi- 
nese  Wall"  of  exclusion  cannot  stop  it.  Are'  , 
we  doing  all  we  can  with  our  money,  our  influ- 
ence and  our  prayers  to  hasten  its  flight?  *'Thy 
kingdom  come;  thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it 
is  in  heaven." 

The  truth  is  trumpetdike.  It  must  be  heard. 
Men  may  jjut  their  fingers  in  their  ears,  but 
sooner  or  later  all  will  know  what  is  truth  nnd 
what  is  falsehood.  Too  many  foUowern  of  truth 
are  quiet.  Sin  is  unrobukcd.  The  halting  are 
not  heli)ed.  Loving  hearts  are  not  cheered  by 
the  "communion  of  saints."  The  igjiorant  are 
not  taught.  The  lily  with  its  trumpet  tones  ex- 
claims, "Wake  up."  Open  yiur  lips  for  Cliri:3t 
niid  Ilis  truth."  "I  was  in  the  spiiit  on  the 
Lord's  day,  and  I  hor.rd  behind  mo  a  great  voice, 
as  of  a  trumpet."     Rev.  1:  10. 

Other  varieties   have  "an  open  form."      So 


•\ 


WHLSPP::iING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       lO.'l 


has  truth.  So  ought  our  lines  to  be  open  and 
frank — "honest  eg  the  sun."  We  ought  to  be 
able  to  look  people  in  the  face,  having  nothing 
underhand  of  which  we  should  be  ashamed.  It 
io  better  to  tell  a  person  his  faults  than  to  whis- 
per them  behind  his  back.  This  frankness  does 
not  conflict  with  modesty,  but  should  acconi- 
j)any  it.  Jesus,  the  Lily  of  the  Valley,  spoke 
plainly  but  was  "meek  and  lowly."  You  can  do 
no  better  than  follow  Him. 


Mallows. 


'•  They  pluck  SALTWORT  by  the  hushes."     Job  30-  4. 

The  Hebrew  Malluahh,  here  translated  salt 
wort  and  in  the  Authorized  Version  Mallows, 
fomes  from  mcllahh,  salt.  Hence  it  means  "  or- 
ach, ...  a  marine  plant,  the  bud  and 
leaves  of  which  were  eaten  by  the  poor  both  raw 
and  boiled."  Ges.  They  were  similar  to  the 
salt  greens  of  the  Maritime  Provinces  of  Cana- 
da of  which  " goose=tongue "  and  "hen  foot"  are 
the  most  esteemed.  Though  agreeable  and 
even  tasty  eaten  as  greens  or  salads,  they  con- 
stitute a  very  poor  diet  in  themselves.  The  sci- 
entific name  is  Atriplex  Halimus.  "In  Syria 
the  Halimus  wls  still  known  by  the  name  of 
mnlluhh  in  the  time  of  Ibu  Beitnr."     Brit. 


104 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


The  root  meaning  of  this  name  is  salt.  "Ye 
are  the  salt  of  the  earth :  but  if  the  salt  have 
lost  its  savour,  wherewith  shall  it  be  salted?  It 
is  thenceforth  good  for  nothing,  but  to  be  cast 
out  and  trodden  under  foot  of  mon."  (Matt.  5: 
13 ) .  Many  Christians  are  as  nearly  "  fresh  salt " 
as  anything  we  ever  see.  You  expect  to  have 
salt  in  your  porridge;  so  all  expect  Christians  to 
be  "salted  to  taste."  "Let  your  speech  be  always 
with  grace,  seasoned  with  salt,  that  yo  may  know 
how  ye  ought  to  answer  each  one."     (Col.  4:  6.) 

Mandrakes. 


*' The  MANDRAKES  give  forth  fragrance."     Cant.  7 :  13. 

Dudaim,  here  translated  mandrakes  i.s  from 
"dud,  to  love.  In  the  singular  it  is  love,  in  the 
plural  'love  apples.'  (Gen.  80:  14,  sqq),  i.  e. 
the  apples  of  the  mandragora,  atropa  mand. 
Linn,  a  plant  similar  to  the  belladonna,  with  a 
root  like  a  beet,  with  white  and  reddish,  fra- 
grant, blossoms  ripen  from  May  to  July."  Ges. 
Let  us  ask  Britannica  about  it.  "  Mandrake, 
mandragora  officinarum,  L.  of  the  potato  family, 
order  Solanaceae.  ...  It  has  a  short  stem 
bearing  a  tuft  of  ovate  leaves  with  a  thick 
fleshy  and  often  forked  root.     The  flowers  are 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE      106 


solitary  with  a  purple  bell-sliaped  corolla. 
Tbe  fruit  is  a  fleshy  orange^colored  berry.  The 
mandrake  has  been  long  known  for  its  poison- 
ous x>roperties  and  supposed  virtues."  Mariti 
says  "  It  grows  low  like  a  lettuce  to  which  its 
leaves  bear  a  strong  resemblance,  except  that 
they  have  a  dark  green  color.  The  flowers  are 
purple;  and  the  roo^  is  for  the  most  part  parted, 
the  fruit  when  ripe  in  the  beginning  of  May  is 
of  the  size  and  color  of  a  small  apple,  exceed- 
ingly ruddy  and  of  a  most  agreeable  odor;  our 
guide  thought  us  to  be  fools  for  suspecting  it  to 
be  unwholesome.  He  ate  it  freely  himself  and 
it  is  generally  valued  by  the  inhabitants  as  ex- 
hilarating their  spirits."  One  may  imagine 
that  the  root  often  looks  like  the  form  of  a  man : 
hence  "mandrakes."  The  Arabs  call  it  "Satan's 
apple." 

The  mandrake  is  ?in  illustration  of  the  use  of 
poisons  for  good  purposes.  Doubtless  there  is 
no  truth  in  many  of  the  strange  siories  told 
about  this  plant  in  all  nges.  A  sami^lo  niny  be 
seen  in  Shakespeare,  e.  g.  Romeo  and  Juliet — 
"And  shrieks  like  mandrnkes  torn  out  of  the 
earth,  that  living  mortals  hearing  tliora  run 
mad."  Others  are  more  sensible  and  seem  to 
have  a  basis  in  fact.     It  is  said  to  have  been 


iff 


i ' '  i 


i^v 


106 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


I' 


used  as  an  anaesthetic  in  surgical   operations. 
Thus  poison  becomes  a    boon.     So  evil   may 
often  be  turned    into    good.    Calumny   when 
"lived  down"  makes  virtue  even  more  virtuous. 
When   we  know  that  others  are  watching  to 
make  the  most  of  our  faults  we  try  the  harder 
to  give   them   no  occasion   for    aspersion.     A 
known  weakness,  which  if  left  alone  poisons  the 
life  may  become  a  stimulus  to  greater  effort 
after  perfecti<m.    The  presence   of  Satan  the 
quintessence  of  poison  should  make  us  more 
watchful   and    active.     God    makes    even    the 
wrath  of   man   to  praise   Him.     (Ps.  76:  10) 
Satan  is   forced  to  do    His    bidding.    As  the 
honey  bee  draws  sweetness  out  of  the  bitter 
flower  and  wholesome  nutrition  from,  the  pois- 
onous plant;  so,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  may 
use  evil  for  good — {not  do  evil.)     Evil  may  be 
a  medicine. 

Let's  U80  and  not  abuse  the  worl 
For  good  is  mingled  with  tho  ill; 
The  Run  draws  up  from  foulest  pool 
Tho  sparkling  water  of  the  rill. 


Millet. 


'  11 


WHISPERINQ  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       107 


I 


! 
t 
1  I 


'■  Take  thou  also  iiiifo  thee  wheat,  and  barley,  and  beans 
and  lenttles,  and  MILLET,  and  spelt,  and  put  them  in 
one  vessel,  and  make  thee  bread  thereof.''''     Ezek.  4 :  9. 

"Dohhan  .  .  .  the  liolcus  dochna  of  Linn, 
a  species  of  mUlct  .  .  .  used  partly  as 
green  fodder  and  partly  for  the  grain  which  is 
of  a  dark  smoky  color  and  is  employed  for 
bread,  pcttage.  eto."  Ges.  The  root  meaning 
is  thought  to  be  the  idea  of  i^nioW.  Here  it  is 
applied  to  the  color.  "Millet  is  from  the  Latin 
mille,  a  thousand,  in  allusion  to  its  fertility. 
It  is  a  name  api)liod  with  little  definiteness  to  a 
considerable  number  of  often  very  variable 
tipecies  of  cereals  belonging  to  distinct  genera 
and  even  subfiimilies  of  Gramineae.  The  true 
millet  however  is  generally  admitted  to  bo 
Panicum  milliaceum,  L.  .  .  .  Some  sup- 
pose it  to  be  one  of  the  earliest  grains  used  in 
bread  making  and  ascribe  the  origin  of  its 
name  to  imnis,  bread,  rather  than  to  the  panicu- 
late inflorescence.  It  is  annual,  requires  rich 
but  friable  soil,  grows  to  about  three  or  four 
feet  high  and  is  characterized  by  its  bristly, 
much -branched,  nodding,  panicles  One  vari- 
ety has  black  grains  The  gr  in,  which 
is  very  nutritious,  is  used  in  the  form  of  groats 


'  ;; 


'■\\\  ■ 


103        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


and  makes  excellent  bread  when  mixed  with 
wheateii  flour.  It  is  also  largely  used  for  feed- 
ing poultry  and  cage  birds  for  which  purposes 
mainly  it  is  imported.  .  .  .  But  the  most 
important  dry  grain  of  the  tropical  countries  of 
Africa  and  Asia,  particularly  of  India  is  sor- 
ghum vulgare.  .  .  .  It  is  annual  and  may 
reach  twelve  feet  in  height ;  it  is  extremely  pro- 
lific even  rivalling  maize  of  which  it  is  a  nenr 
congener.  Its  flour  is  very  white,  but  does  not 
easily  make  good  bread;  it  i^  largely  used  in 
cakos  and  puddings  and  for  feeding  cattle  and 
poultry.  The  panicles  are  used  for  brooms  and 
the  roots  for  velvet  brushes.  .  .  .  Horghum 
saccharatum  (the  Chinese  sugar  cane)  is  much 
cultivated  in  the  United  States,  as  a  source  of 
molasses,  the  juice  which  contains  much  glu- 
cose but  comparatively  little  cane-sugar,  being 
simply  expressed  and  conceitrated  by  evapora- 
tion." (Britannica.) 

The  name  millet  suggests  fruitfulness.  The 
Christian  life  ought  to  bo  one  fruitful  in  good. 
"Herein  is  my  father  glorified,  that  ye  bear 
much  fruit."  (Joliu  15:8.)  Some  are  fruitful 
merely  .  ors  and  contentions  and  jealousies; 

but  "they  which  practice  sucli  things  shall  not 
inherit  tlie  Kingdom  of  God.     But  the  fruit  of 


1 1 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       109 

the  Spirit  is  love,  joy,  peace,  longsuffering, 
kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness,  meekness,  tem- 
perance." (Gal.  5:21,  22.) 

Not  only  is  the  seed  used  for  food  but  the 
"  panicles  are  used  for  brooms  and  the  roots  for 
velvet  brushes."  Everything  is  for  use.  So  all 
our  moments  and  all  our  powers  should  be  put 
to  a  good  use.  There  is  so  much  selfishness  in 
our  lives!  We  often  waste  upon  ourselves 
what  might  be  of  use  to  others.  It  is  true  we 
need  relaxation  and  recreation,  but  some  people 
take  a  conUnual  holiday,  whilst  others  slavr 
for  themselves.  Many  are  satisfied  with  work- 
ing in  one  line;  and  when  they  do  not  need  to 
work  there,  they  work  at  nothing.  A  change 
of  work  is  often  better  than  complete  cessation, 
far  better  than  dissipating  pleasure.  The  mil- 
let might  say  "  My  seed  is  good  for  food.  That 
is  enough.  I  will  give  men  nothing  else  to 
use."  Many  would  consider  this  very  liberal; 
but  the  spirit  of  Christ  is  one  of  service,  yet 
joyous  service.  When  we  live  wholly  for  others 
we  enjoy  life  better  and  we  are  of  some  use  in 
the  world.  Studying  may  become  preeminently 
selfish.  The  "  book-worm  "  that  luver  gives  his 
knowledge  to  others  is  like  a  boar  in  winter — 
lost  in  self.    They  perhaj^s  get  time  to  impute 


i  i 


I 


m 


110 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


false  motives  to  others  who  try  to  share  their 
knowledge  with  the  public — a  sleepy  growl. 
The  one  who  travels  merely  for  pleasure  or  for 
profit  to  himself  mentally  or  otherwise  is  an 
example  of  refined  and  expensive  selfishness. 
Everything  we  do  ought  to  be  done  in  order  to 
help  others.  Service  should  be  the  motto  of 
every  life.  Every  Christian  is  pledged  to  this. 
Do  we  keep  our  pledge?  The  Son  of  God,  our 
perfect  Exemplar,  says,  "  The  son  of  man  came 
not  to  be  ministered  unto,  but  to  minister,  and  to 
give  His  life  a  ransom  for  many."  Matt.  20 :  28. 

Mulberry. 

And  when  David  inquired  of  the  Lord,  He  said,  Thou 
shall  not  go  vp:  make  a  Circuit  beJiind  them,  and  come 
vjion  them  over  against  the  MULBERRY  TREES  {or 
balsam  trees).  And  it  shall  be,  when  thou  hearest  the 
sound  of  marching  in  the  tops  of  the  MULBERRY 
trees,  that  then  thou  shalt  bestir  thyself :  for  then  is  the 
Lord  gone  out  before  thee  to  smite  the  host  of  the  Philis- 
tines.     Q  Sam.  '>:  23,24. 

Baca,  here  translated  "mulberry  trees," 
occurs  in  Ps.  84:  G,  where  it  is  rendered  "  weep- 
ing " — *'  Passing  through  the  valley  of  weep- 
ing they  make  it  a  place  of  springs."  Margin 
("or  balsam  trees,  Heb.  Baca.")  The  root 
meanirg    is    to    disiil,   to  dro}).    From   this 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        111 


naturally  arises  the  idea  of  weeping  and  of  trees 
dihtilling  tears  of  balsam.  The  Revised  Version 
puts  this  idea  in  the  margin. 

Christians  should  not  always  be  weeping. 
Christ  was  not  a  weeping  Jesus.  But  it  wonld 
bo  better  if  the  tears  of  sorrow  for  sin  were 
ofteuer  seen  upon  the  face.  "  There  is  a  time  to 
weep  and  a  time  to  laugh."  The  time  to  weep 
is  when  we  are  alone  or  with  those  who  weep. 
We  ought  to  shed  our  tears  for  sin  in  secret, 
i^o  forth  and  "passing  through  the  valley  of 
weeping  make  it  a  place  of  springs"  of  joy. 
Those  who  look  to  the  Sun  of  Highteousness 
have  their  tears  turned  into  rainbows  of  prom- 
ise. "  Blessed  are  they  that  mourn:  for  they 
shall  be  comforted."  (Matt.  5:4.) 


t    ; 
S 


Mustard. 


"  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto  a  grain  of  MUSTARD 
seed,  rohich  a  man  took,  and  sowed  in  his  field :  which 
indeed  is  less  ihati  all  seeds;  but  when  it  is  grown,  it  is 
greater  than  the  herbs,  and  becometh  a  tree,  so  that  the 
birds  of  the  heaven  come  and  lodge  in  the  branchea 
thereof' Matt.  13:31,  32. 

"  The  varieties  of  the  mustard  seed  of  com- 
merce are  produced  from  several  species  of  the 
cruciferous  genus  Brass ica.    Of  these  the  prin- 


ill 


)    i 


i 


112       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


cipal  are  the  Black  or  Brown  mustuKl,  Brassica 
nigra;  the  white,  B.  alba;  and  the  Sarepta,  B. 
jiincea.  .  .  .  The  peculiar  pungency  and  odour 
to  which  mustard  owes  much  of  its  val.io  are  due 
to  an  essential  oil  developed  liy  the  action  of 
water  on  two  peculiar,  chemical  substances  con- 
tained in  the  black  seed.  .  .  .  It  is  worthy  of 
remark  that  this  reaction  does  not  take  place  in 
presence  of  boiling  water;  and  therefore  it  is  not 
proper  to  use  very  hot  water  in  the  i)reparatiou 
of  mustard  .  .  .  Both  as  a  table  condiment  and 
as  a  medicinal  substance  mustard  has  been 
known  from  a  very  remote  period.  .  .  .  All  va- 
rieties of  mustard  seed  contain  from  25  to  35  per 
cent,  of  a  bland  inodorous  yellow -colored  fixed 
oil,  free  from  pungency  and  with  little  tendency 
to  become  rancid."     (Brit.) 

Sometimes  we  meet  mustard  men.  There  is 
a  pungency  in  what  they  say  and  do.  Every 
word  they  speak  is  felt.  Even  those  who  are 
made  to  smart  admire  this  quality.  It  spices  the 
insipidity  of  life.  It  can  be  cultivated.  Have 
an  aim  in  life,  a  burnincj  purpose,  and  it  will  be 
felt.  The  majority  are  satisfied  if  they  do  not  do 
anything  openly  wrong.  To  them  life  is  but  a 
brief  space  to  be  "  whiled  away  "  without  injury 
to  others.     But  G  od  put  us  here  for  a  purpose — 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        113 

"Life  i8  real,  life  is  earnest, 
And  the  grave  is  not  its  goal: 

Dust  thou  art,  to  dust  returnest, 
Was  not  spoken  of  the  Soul." 

Cold  water  gives  mustard  ita  pungency.  Some 
people  have  no  mustard  in  their  natures;  but, 
like  water,  they  can  help  others  to  be  powerful. 
None  of  us  needs  despair.  We  can  help  others 
by  our  sympathy,  our  prayers,  our  support.  The 
minister  of  the  Gospel  needs  tlieiii  all.  It  is  hard 
for  a  man  to  preach  pcjwerfully  to  those  not  in 
sympathy  with  him.  "  Boiling  water  "  prevents 
action.  If  you  keep  your  pastor  in  '*  hot  water" 
all  the  time  you  have  no  right  to  expect  much 
from  him.  Some  regard  "  biting  "  remarks  as 
unchristian.  They  do  not  like  mustard.  They 
prefer  that  bland  suavity  of  refinement  which 
never  startles.  They  prefer  mild  utterances  ev^ 
en  when  one  is  trying  to  awake  the  sleepers  in  a 
burning  building.  People  will  not  sleep  under 
a  "mustard"  sermon.  The  sweet  perfumes  of 
some  pulpits  tend  at  least  to  spiritual  sleep. 

The  "  bland  fixed  oil  "  of  the  mustard  is  a  type 
of  the  peaceful  love  of  God  in  the  soul.  Even 
"mustard"  men,  if  Christi.ins,  have  a  repose, 
fixed  and  joyous.  It  is  the  oil  of  God's  grace. 
Amid  the  storms  of  life,  though  surface  waves 


q 


Eh' 


t'. 


1  i  '■■''■ 

W     ' ; 


\\M 


■I'M 


i!P 


in 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


rise  high  and  are  uncontrolled,  yet  in  the  heart 
there  is  a  deep,  abiding  calm. 

If  one  loves  not  the  Saviour  this  peace  is  nnknown, 
As  the  blind  cannot  see  all  the  beauties  of  enrth; 
So  it  is  with  the  son],  that  is  si^^htless  as  stone, 
That  refnses  the  salve  of  invaluable  worth. 

Our  Saviour  draws  attention  to  the  contrast 
also  between  the  size  of  the  seed  and  that  of  the 
plant  which  grows  from  it  Dr.  Thomson  tells  us 
"  I  have  seen  the  plant  on  the  rich  plains  of  Ak- 
ka  ( Phoenicia )  as  tall  as  the  horse  and  his  rider." 
Lightfoot  says  "  A  man  may  climb  into  their 
branches."  A  traveller  in  Chili  speaks  of  rid- 
ing under  them  on  horseback.  When  the  seed 
is  ripe  "  the  birds  come  and  lodge  in  the  branch- 
es, thereof."  There  are  seeds  that  are  smaller, 
but  this  is  the  smallest  of  sow;?*  seeds;  hence 
the  proverb  "  as  small  as  a  grain  of  mustard 
seed."  Jesus  used  this  saying  as  He  found  it 
— "  Verily,  I  say  unto  you,  if  ye  have  faith 
as  a  grain  of  mustard  seed  ye  shall  say  un- 
to this  mountain  remove  hence  to  yonder 
place;  and  it  shall  remove;  and  nothing  shall  be 
impossible  unto  you."  (Matt.  17:  2C>.  How 
small  our  faith  must  be.  We  cannot  move  a 
mole- hill.     Even  some  Christians  fear;  (and  it 


WHISPERING  LEAVE8  OF  PALESTIKE     lliS 


it 


is  far  better  to  fear  than  to  rest  upon  false 
hopes).  They  say  I  liave  so  little  faith  I  fear 
it  will  not  uphold  me  in  death.  Have  you  as 
much  as  one  grain  of  mustard  seed?  Then 
Jesus  will  save  you.  Much  less  than  that 
will  bring  life  to  the  soul.  Again,  the  Kingdom 
of  Heaven  is  comparatively  smnll  at  first,  but  it 
grows.  A  grain  of  Beed=thought  enters  a  heart. 
It  is  very  small  but  their  is  evolution,  until  it 
bears  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit.  It  overshadows 
the  whole  being.  Look  at  the  Kingdom  of  God 
in  the  world!  Jesus  and  His  twelve  humble 
disciples  in  Palestine.  Hi)W  small  the  seed! 
Yet  soon  this  "little  one  became  a  thousand 
and  this  small  one  a  strong  nation."  (Is.  00:  22). 
It  si)rcad  in  Palestine.  It  crossed  tlio  Helles- 
pont. The  Roman  Empire  became  a  Christian 
Nation.  This  tree  of  life  was  "girdled"  by  sin 
and  died.  Shoots  sprung  up.  One  was  named 
Wycliffe;  another,  Huss;  another  Luther.  See 
Luther  groping  in  a  monastery.  He  finds  a  La- 
tin Bible,  the  mustard  seed  of  God's  truth.  It 
germinated.  How  fast  it  grew!  A  sturdy 
growth!  All  the  blasting  winds  of  Papacy  reek- 
ing with  corruption,  could  not  destioy  the  little 
plant.  Behold  to-day  the  wide^spreadingbranch- 
es  of  Protestantism !   One  hundred  years  ago  Ro- 


!     I 


(  f 


m 


I  il->-n 


m 


i 


n^ 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


bert  Haikes  planted  the  mustard  seed  of.  Sabbath 
Schools.  To  day  its  branches  brave  the  frozen 
regions  of  the  extreme  North;  its  leaves  rustle 
iu  the  South  Sea  breezes;  its  shade  girdles  the 
(xirth.  Thirteen  years  at^o  (1881)  Rev.  F.  E. 
Clark  dropped  the  seed  of  the  Christian  Endeav- 
or Society  ( Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.)  in  his  own  church. 
Tt  now  grows  in  every  state  of  the  I.'nion,  flour- 
ishes ill  Canadian  soil,  seems  suited  to  any  cli- 
mate, of  any  meridian.  (Members  in '*.)4  over 
2,000,000.)  In  how  many  departments  of  the 
Church's  work  do  we  see  the  same  wondrous 
growth  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven!  We  are 
getting  glimjises  of  the  power  that  is  to  spread 
from  pole  to  pole,  and  from  the  rising  of  the  sun 
to  its  going  down.  "The  earth  shall  l)e  full  of 
the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover 
the  sea."    Is.  11:  0- 


Oh,  hasten  Lord  the  glorious  dar, 
When  we  no  more  shall  need  to  pray, 
*  Thy  Kingdom  come.  'I'liy  will  be  done;' 
But  join  the  halleluiah.s  sung. 

Myrrh. 

A  gum  imported  into  Palestine. 


■\ 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE  il7 


,  <)  at 


iV 


Myrtle. 

"And  they  found  written  in  the  lau\  how  that  the  Lord 
had  commanded  ()ij  Mosps  .  .  .  sayintj.  Go  forth  tiu- 
to  the  mount,  and  fetch  olive  branches,  and  branches  of 
wild  olive,  and  MYRTI.K  branches,  and  palm  branches, 
and  branches  of  thick  trees,  to  make  booths,  as  it  is  ivrit- 
ten.''     Neh.  H:  11,  In. 

** Instead  of  the  brier  shall  come  up  tlie  MYllTLK  tree.  Is. 
51:  13. 

Hadas  was  the  Hebrew  name  of  the  myrtle. 
It  is  supposed  to  have  been  pfiven  because  it 
Icap^.  or  sprinf:!:^  n\)  rapidly.  Ropes  are  made 
out  of  the  myrtle  twitj^s.  "Myrtas  communis  of 
tlie  l)ot:inists  is  a  low  i^rowinij,  everujreen  shrub, 
with  opposite  leaves,  varyinj^-  in  dimensions,  but 
always  small,  simple,  dark-green,  thick  in  tex- 
ture, and  studded  with  numerous  receptacles  for 
oil.  When  the  leaf  is  held  up  to  the  light  it 
appears  as  if  i)erforated  with  pin-holes  owing  to 
the  translucency  of  these  oil-cysts.  The  fra- 
grance of  the  plant  depends  upon  the  presence 
of  this  oil.  Another  peculiarity  of  the  myrtle 
is  the  existence  of  a  prominent  vein  i'unning 
round  the  leaf  within  the  margin.  The  flowers 
are  borne  on  short  stalks  in  the  axils  of  the 
leaves.  The  llov.'er  slalk  is  dilated  at  its  u}?pc-r 
{^nd.  .  .  .  From  its  margin  jn'oceed  the  live 
sei^als  and  within  them  the  five  rounded  sxxion- 


iia 


■  .!!*♦( 


!i'^ 


i;  1    ■  ■!  ^ 


i    ■! 


f.l    ', 


■'  I  j:i 


118       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


shaped,  spreadini,^  wliito  petals.  .  .  .  The 
fruit  is  a  purplish  borry,  consisting  of  the  recep- 
tacle and  the  ovary  hlended  into  one  succulent 
investment,  enclosing  very  numerous  and  mi- 
nute seeds  destitute  of  perispsrm."  (Brit.) 
'"In  the  sunny  south  it  grows  to  the  dimensio;i3 
of  a  tree,  and  few  objects  more  delight  the  sense 
than  groves  of  this  classic  plant.  The  Egyp- 
tians imported  the  myrtle  for  their  gardens  on 
the  banks  of  the  Nile;  and  like  the  Greeks 
and  Romans  wove  wre-iths  of  honour  from  its 
dark  glossy  foliage.  Dedicated  to  the  Goddess 
of  Beauty,  the  myrtle  was  regarded  by  the  an- 
cients as  the  emblem  of  love  and  pcdcc.  Among 
the  Hebrews  this  shrub,  according  to  the  Rab- 
bin, symbolized  justice;  but  there  is  nothing 
in  Scripture  to  support  this.  The  flowers  and 
leaves  are  sold  in  the  markets  of  Damascus  and 
Jerusalem  as  perfumes.  .  .  .  The  fruit  is 
eaten  as  a  dessert  in  Cyprus  at  the  present  day." 
(Groser.)  East  of  the  Jordan  it  attains  the 
height  of  twenty  or  twenty  five  feet. 

The  Hebrew  name  signifies  a  rapid  grower. 
There  is  need  for  haste  in  saving  souls.  A 
thousand  million  immortal  human  beings  igno- 
rant of  the  true  God  and  Saviour  are  nifirching 
toward  the  precipice  of  death  and  falling  over 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE     119 


IS 

blie 


A 

ruo- 

Iver 


by  the  myriad  every  hour.  Oh,  haste!  And 
tell  them  of  Jesus  and  his  love.  We  ought  to 
have  a  thousand  missionaries  in  heathen  lands 
where  we  now  have  one.  Christians  have 
enough  wealth  to  send  these.  Yet  they  talk  of 
being  liberal!  Give  all  you  can  and  labor  for 
those  around  you.  Your  brother  living  without 
God  and  without  hope,  may  die  this  night. 
Haste!  Warn  him,  entreai  him,  before  it  is  too 
late.  Our  own  days  are  rapidly  slipping  by  and 
with  them  go  the  opportunities  for  good.  This 
is  a  "fast"  age.  See  the  hurry  and  excitement 
in  winning  gold  that  corrupts  the  soul  that 
keeps  it.  Some  burn  the  candle  of  life  at  both 
ends  in  the  pursuit  of  what  perishes  with  the 
using.  They  fritter  away  lif(^  in  reading  novels 
and  engaging  in  all  absorbing  revelries.  But  if 
one  is  in  earnest  about  liis  own  soul  or  the  souls 
of  others  which  must  ho  forever  either  in  heav- 
en or  in  hell,  they  cry  out  **  excitement,"  and 
hold  up  their  hands  in  ''hnhj  (?)  horror."  Oh 
for  an  outpouring  of  tlir  power  of  Christ  to  set 
people  in  their  right  niitids!  (See  Mark  5:  15.) 
How  pliant  too  is  the  myrtle!  No  stubborn 
branches  would  make  a  rope  or  bind  a  booth 
together.  Some  people  will  not  yield  an  inch. 
They  do  not  consider  the  feelings  or  rights  of 


'  rl 


i!       I 


I  f'     i 


; 


120       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

others.  The  more  ignorant  the  more  dogmatic 
they  are.  Those  who  are  truly  wise  know  that 
they  know  but  little  and  way  be  mistaken. 
Often  the  one  with  a  little  knowledge  and  a 
stiflP  neck  runs  his  head  against  a  stone  wall. 
The  Christ-like  spirit  yields  to  others  where 
yielding  is  not  sin.  When  it  is  a  matter  of 
duty  or  of  conscience  we  should  yield  to  none: 
no,  not  a  hair's  breadth.  Dare  to  be  a  Daniel, 
a  Luther.  But  in  a  matter  of  opinion  or  even 
of  privilege,  be  not  stiff  necked  and  rebellious. 
The  pliant  myrtle  bends  and  6  v/ so  doiny  is  si  rang; 
the  brittle  branch  will  not  bend  and  it  breaks. 
One  characteristic  of  the  myrtle  leaves  is 
the  receptacles  for  oil  to  which  it  owes  its  fra- 
grance. The  Houl  of  man  was  intended  to  be  a 
receptacle  for  tho  oil  of  God's  Holy  Spirit.  It 
is  clogged  up  willi  worldly  things  and  with  sin, 
and  we  must  bo  willing  to  let  go  these  things 
before  we  can  receive  this  grace,  this  life. 
We  cannot  be  a  myrtle  tree  in  the  garden  of  the 
Lord,  unless  the  receptacles  of  the  soul  are 
filled  with  love  to  God.  The  fragrance  of  the 
soul  depends  on  this.  The  more  we  have  of 
the  oil  of  God's  grace  in  our  hearts,  the  more 
fragrant  will  be  our  lives,  the  stronger  their 
power  for  good. 


11" 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       121 


Another  peculiarity  is  the  marginal  vein. 
The  sap  or  hlood  is  the  type  of  life.  *'  These 
things  saith  He  that  hath  the  seven  Spirits  of 
God,  and  the  seven  stars:  I  know  thy  works, 
that  thou  hast  a  name  that  thou  livest,  and  thou 
art  dead.  Be  thou  watchful,  and  stablish  the 
things  that  remain,  which  were  feady  to  die." 
(Rev.  3:  1,  2.) 

How  fitting  that  the  myrtle  should  be  used  as 
a  crown  of  honor!  Emblematic  of  the  "  crown 
of  life."  If  a  man  enter  the  list  for  a  foot=race 
and  does  not  exert  himself,  he  cannot  expect  to 
be  crowned.  Have  you  entered  the  list  in  the 
race  for  eternal  life?  Do  you  wish  the  crown? 
Do  not  sit  still.     Do  not  walk.     Ru}i. 

Nard  and  Spikenard. 

An  unguent  imported  from  the  East. 

Nettle. 

"  I  went  by  the  Jiold  of  Oil'  HloUiful.  and  by  the  vineyard  of 
the  man  void  of  vndri'stanih'iiij ;  and,  ^),  if  iva.'i  all  (frown 
over  with  tliorns,  tlir  face  thereof  was  corered  with  XKT- 
TLES  {or  wild  vetchca,)  and  the  stone  ivall  thereof  tvas 
broken  down.''''     Prov.  '^4:  :U).  :il. 

Hharftl,  rendered  in  the  Bible  nettle,  is  l)y 
Gesenius  called  "  a  thorn  bush,  bramble,  so 
called  from  its  pricking,  burning.''    Nettle  cer- 


-11 

m   i  — 


'):■ ' 

I 

»i  ■ 


i<jit; 


i  m 


if: 


#1 

fi 
iil     J, 


HI 


122 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


tainly  is  a  suitable  translation.  The  writer  has 
had  experience  of  the  burning  of  nettles  in  Brit- 
ish Columbia.  If  touched  by  the  back  of  the 
hand,  or  by  the  face,  it  at  once  raises  white 
blisters  which  bum  like  red  hot  coals.  The 
nettle  of  Nova  Scotia  is  very  mild.  The  Eng- 
^lish  name  is  also  suitable,  derived  as  it  is  from 
netel  or  naedl,  a  needle.  "Nettle  is  the  ver- 
nacular equivalent  of  the  Latin  urtica,  which 
again  gives  its  name  to  the  urticeae.  The  spe- 
cies of  urtica  are  herba  covered  with  stinging 
hairs.  .  .  .  The  stinging  hairs  consist  at 
the  base  of  a  bulbous  reservoir  filled  with  acrid 
fluid  and  prolonged  into  a  long  slender  tube 
the  extremity  of  which  is  finely  pointed.  By 
means  of  this  point  the  hair  penetrates  the  skin 
and  discharges  its  irritant  contents  beneath 
the  surface.  Some  tropical  species  of  urtica 
produce  a  fluid  of  such  potency  that  the  most 
serious  consocjuences  ensue  from  coming  into 
contact  with  the  plant.  .  .  .  They  follow 
man  in  his  immigrations  and  by  their  presence 
usually  indicate  a  soil  rich  in  nitrogen."  (Brit.) 
The  nettle  keeps  company  with  thorns  and 
briers  in  neglected  places.  Yet  it  is  related  to 
thn  hop  and  hemp,  members  of  the  order  Urtica. 
So  alas!  we  see  people  related  to  good  and  use- 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       128 


ful  members  ot  society  who  show  what  they  are 
by  their  bad  company.  If  one  loves  God,  he 
will  love  God's  people  and  God's  house  and 
God's  word.  If  self-love  is  supreme  he  seeks 
ease  and  the  company  of  tlie  worldly  =^ minded. 
"There  is  no  fear  of  God  before  their  eyes." 
(Rom.  3:  18.)  We  know  much  of  one's  inner 
life  if  we  know  where  he  loves  to  spend  his  even- 
ings and  his  Sabbaths.  "  Birds  of  a  feather 
flock  together."  It  will  be  so  after  death. 
Those  who  love  the  society  of  the  world  will  be 
shut  out  with  kindred  minds — "  Without  are 
the  dogs,  and  the  sorcerers,  and  the  fornicators, 
and  the  murderers,  and  the  idolaters,  and  every- 
one that  loveth  and  maketh  a  lie."  (Rev.  22: 
15.)  Those  who  love  God  and  his  truth  shall 
go  where  their  hearts  lead  them.  "  Blessed  are 
they  that  wash  their  robes,  that  they  may  liave 
the  right  to  come  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may 
enter  in  by  tlie  gates  into  the  city.  He  that  is 
unrighteous  let  him  do  unrighteousness  still  (or 
yet  more:)  and  he  that  is  filthy,  let  him  be  made 
filthy  still:  and  he  that  is  righteous,  let  him  do 
righteousness  still:  and  he  that  is  holy  let  him 
be  made  holy  still. "     (Rev.  22:  14.  11.) 

The  poison  of  the  nettle  warns  us  against  sin. 
Leave  it  alone  and  it  cannot  harm  you:  but  you 


1 ' 


li 


f;  'J: 


M      i:- 


i 


it 


Ml 


i!i 


■t-i    I 


134 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


cannot  tamper  with  it  without  suffering. 
Those  who  drink  the  cup  of  sinful  pleasure 
find  bitter  drejj^s,  and  that  poison  was  mixed 
with  the  joy.  The  pleasure  is  fleeting,  the  poi- 
son enduring.  Those  who  resist  the  strivings 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  will  find  they  were  '*  kicking 
against  the  goads."  It  takes  some  poisons  a 
long  time  to  act  fatally.  The  remorse  of  a 
wronged  conscience  is  often  bad  enough  even 
in  life,  but  its  terrors  rire  untold  when  death 
sets  it  free.  Ammonia  will  take  away  the  sting 
of  the  nettle.  The  only  ammonia  for  the  soul 
is  the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God.  It  takes  away 
the  sting  of  sin.  Why  is  it  so  many  neglect, 
slight  the  remedy. 

Sin  like  the  nettle  follows  man.  Some  have 
tried  in  vain  by  charige  of  scenes  and  compan- 
ions to  run  away  from  sin  and  its  pains.  As 
well  try  to  run  away  from  self!  There  is  one 
way,  only  one:  become  "new  creatures  in  Christ 
Jesus."  As  long  as  we  are  our  nataral  selves, 
sin  is  part  of  us,  no  matter  where  we  are.  How 
true  flie  words  of  the  Immortal  Bard,  put  into 
vie  K.ontl;  of  Satan  "which  way  I  fly  is  hell; 
I'lrsel:  aui  liell."  Look  at  the  South  Seas! 
Wherever  the  sandalwood  traders  went,  there 
sprang  up  a  luxuriant  growth  of  the  nettles  of  their 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE      125 


vices.  So  among  the  natives  of  our  great 
American  continent  the  white  man's  sins  and 
not  his  virtues  found  a  fruitful  soil.  It  is  our 
privilege  and  duty  to  send  everj'where  the 
never  failing  antidote.  For  where  there  is 
neglect  there  sin  flourishes. 

Where  e'er  the  devil  steps 
The  thorns  and  nettles  grow, 
Whose  poison  stings  the  f-soul 
With  an  eternal  woe. 
Touch  not  the  cursed  thiiif^. 
Turn  from  it;  pass  it  by. 
Seek  out  the  antidote. 
You  get  it  from  on  high. 

Nuts. 


11 


*'And  their  faihev  Israel  said  vnto  them,  If  it  be  so  noiv,  do 
this;  take^of  the  choice  fruits  of  flic  bind  in  your  vessels, 
and  carry  down  the  man  a  p?•e.sTJ(^  a  little  balm,  and  a 
little  honey,  sincery  and  viyrrh,  *  NUTS  and  almonds." 
Gen.  43: 11. 

*  Margin  "  That  is,  pistachio  nuts." 

^^  I  went  dotvn  into  the  garden  of  NUl'S,  to  see  the  green 
plants  of  the  valley."  Cant.  (> :  11. 

DifFcrer>t  Rebrow  words  are  used  for  nut  in 
these  Ivvo  passages.  In  (xonoHis  it  is  botnim;  in 
Canticles     egoz.     "Botnim  .     .     pistacio 

nuts     ...     a  kind  of  nut  of  oblong  shape,  so 
called  from  their  form  whicli  is  Mat  on  one  side 


rtp" 


120 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


hi! 


n 


-  fi 


and  round  or  bellied  on  the  other.  They  grow 
on  a  tree  resembling  the  terebinth,  pistacio  vera 
of  Linn,  which  is  found  in  Syria."  (Ges.) 
Egoz  is  a  general  terra  for  nut.  It  is  thought 
that  two  kinds  are  particularly  referred  to,  the 
Pistacio  and  the  Walnut.  The  fruit  of  these  is 
still  much  used  in  Western  Asia  and  in  Europe. 
*'  Botanically  speaking  nuts  are  one= celled  fruits 
with  hardened  pericarps,  more  or  less  enveloped 
in  a  cupule  or  cup  formed  by  the  aggregation 
of  the  bracts.  ...  A  great  number  of  nuts 
enter  into  commerce  for  various  purposes, 
principally  as  articles  of  food  or  sources  of  oil. 
.  .  .  For  the  most  j^art  the  edible  nuts  are 
very  rich  in  oil  with  only  a  small  percentage  of 
the  other  carbohydrates,  stavoh,  sugar,  etc.,  and 
they  also  contain  a  large  proportion  of  nitro- 
genous constituents.  Thus  possessing  rich 
nutrient  principles  in  a  highly  concentrated 
form  nuts  are  by  themselves  rather  ditHcult  of 
digestion.  .  .  .  Oleaginous  nuts  used  for  food 
are  likewise  employed  more  or  less  as  sources 
of  oil,  but  on  the  other  hand  there  are  many  oil 
nuts  of  commercial  importance  not  embraced  in 
the  list  of  edible  nuts.  .  .  .  The  Pistachio 
nut  is  the  fruit  of  the  pistacio  vera.  .  .  . 
It  is  not  so  large  as  a  hazel  nut    but  is  rather 


\\i 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       127 


longer  and  is  much  thinner,  and  the  shell  is 
covered  by  a  somewhat  wrinkled  skin.  .  .  . 
The  Walnut,  juglans  regia,  is  a  lofty  tree,  native 
of  Persia  and  Asia  Minor.  The  fruit  whilst 
young  and  tender  is  much  used  for  pickling, 
and  when  ripe  is  a  favorite  article  of  the  dessert. 
.  .  .  The  buds  are  not  unlike  those  of  the 
ash;  and  it  frequently  happens  that  in  the  axils 
of  the  leaves  instead  of  one,  several  buds  may 
be  formed.  The  utility  of  this  is  seen  in 
seasons  when  the  shoot  produced  from  the  first 
bud  is  killed  by  frost;  then  one  of  the  supi)le- 
mentary  buds  starts  into  growth  and  thus  re- 
places the  injured  shoot.  ...  At  the  pres- 
ent day  the  tree  is  largely  cultivated  in  most 
temperate  countries  for  the  sake  of  the  timber 
or  for  its  edible  nuts.  The  timber  is  especially 
valued  for  cabinet  work  and  for  gun  stocks,  the 
beauty  of  its  markings  rendering  it  desirable 
for  the  first  named  purpose  while  its  strength 
and  elasticity  fit  it  for  the  second.  The  leaves 
and  husk  of  the  fruit  are  resinous  and  astrin- 
gent, and  are  sometimes  used  medicinally  as 
well  as  for  dyeing  purposes.  .  .  .  The  ker- 
nel of  the  large-fruited  variety  is  of  very  in- 
different quality,  but  its  large  shells  are  made 
use  of  by  the  French  as  trinket   cases."    (Brit.) 


128        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


•>  ':■ 


"On  barren  scalps  she  makes  fresh  honours  grow; 
Her  timber  is  for  varions  uses  good; 
The  carver  she  supplies  with  useful  wood, 
She  makes  the  painters  fading  colours  last: 
A  table  she  affords  us  and  repast: 
E'en  while  we  feast  her  oil  our  lamp  supplies; 
The  rankest  poison  by  her  virtue  dies; 
The  mad-dog's  foam  and  taint  of  raging  skies. 
The  Pontic  King  who  lived  where  poisons  grew, 
Skilful  in  antidotes  her  virtues  knew." 

COWLKV. 

Nuts  tell  us  of  concentration.  This  is  an  age 
of  specialists.  They  concentrate  their  energy 
upon  one  branch  of  knowledge.  This  is  also  an 
age  of  hurry ;  and  men  cannot  endure  verbosity. 
The  writings  of  Bacon  are  more  popular  than 
those  of  Macaulay.  "  Brevity  is  the  soul  of 
wit  "  and  wisdom.  But  as  concentrated  food  is 
hard  to  digest  and  tends  to  dyspe}3sia,  so  there 
is  great  danger  of  mental  and  spiritual  dyspep- 
sia. The  remedy  is:  Take  time;  change  the  diet; 
masticate  well;  use  the  lactopeptine  of  faith, 
hope  and  love. 

"  The  resin  of  the  nut  is  used  as  a  salve." 
The  result  of  concentrated  effort  ought  to  be  a 
salve  for  trouble  and  even  for  bodily  illness. 
We  ought  to  be  able  to  abstract  from  our  men- 
tal and  spiritual  diet  the  oil  of  healing. 

The  walnut  is  used  for  food  both  green  and 
ripe.     Some  have  no  use  for  children  in  their 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       129 

work.  They  must  have  maturity  or  nothing. 
Some  m  others,  e.  g.  will  not  let  their  daugh- 
ters do  any  cooking  because  they  cannot  cook  as 
well  or  as  quickly  as  themselves.  It  is  better 
to  use  and  train  the  young.  Their  freshness 
and  tenderness  is  agreeable  and  profitable. 

The  tree  is  characterized  by  a  reserve^fund  of 
buds.  If  one  fails  another  is  ready  to  take  its 
place.  Man  ought  always  to  have  such  a  fund. 
Some  tell  all  they  know  and  more.  "  Every 
prudent  man  worketh  with  knowledge:  but  a 
fool  spreadeth  out  folly."  (Prov.  13  :  16).  "A 
fool's  lips  enter  into  contention."  (Prov.  18  ; 
6).  One  is  not  long  in  the  company  of  some 
persons  before  they  become  conscious  that  they 
know  more  than  they  say.  Their  knowledge  is 
substantial,  not  mere  froth.  "  Let  every  man 
be  swift  to  hear,  slow  to  speak."  (Jas.  1 :19). 
Others  "  talk  "  all  their  religion.  They  have  no 
reserve  fund  for  temptation  or  for  business. 
There  is  no  excuse  for  us  if  we  do  not  have  a 
large  reseiTe  fund  of  the  love  of  God.  "When 
the  bud  of  physical  life  is  destroyed  by  the 
frost  of  death,  have  you  the  bud  of  spiritunl  life 
ready  to  burst  into  the  fuller  and  perfect  growth 
of  heaven?  ' 

Some  people  are  coarse-grained,  knotty,  dis 


1 1 


■^11  ill 


|:« 


I  I 


180 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


colored  by  sin,  splintery,  brittle  and  changeful. 
It  does  one  good  to  meet  a  walnut  Christian. 
There  is  an  evenness  of  temper,  a  refined  solidity 
of  character,  a  radiant  beauty  of  kindly  acts,  a 
considerate  courtesy  of  language,  elastic  opin- 
ions, and  a  durability  possible  only  in  those 
whose  lives  are  permeated  with  the  oil  of  divine 
grace.  Such  ones  are  polished  by  the  wearing 
trials  and  disappointments  of  life;  and  are 
carved  into  saintly  loveliness  by  the  chisel  held 
in  the  hand  of  a  loving  Providence. 

Oak. 

'*  Yi't  destroyed  I  the  Amorites  before  them,  whose  heightwas 
like  the  height  of  the  cedars,  and  he  was  strong  a*  the 
OAKS."     Amos  2:  9. 

The  Hebrew  words  rendered  oak,  teil  tree, 
and  terebinth,  have  the  same  root  meaning, 
strength.  They  are  ela,  alia,  allon,  and  el. 
Some  who  saw  little  of  Palestine  and  thought 
they  knew  all  of  it,  said  there  are  no  true  oaks 
(Quercus)  in  the  Holy  Land.  It  is  well  worth 
our  time  to  read  what  Dr.  Thomson  writes 
after  living  many  years  at  Beirut. — ''Beside 
the  vast  groves  nt  the  north  of  Tabor  and  on 
Lebanon  and  Hermon,  in  Gilead  and  Bashan, 
think  of  the  great  forests  extending  thirty  miles 


t\i 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE         131 


ill 


at  least  along  the  hills  west  of  Nazareth,  over 
Carmel,  and  down  south  beyond  Cesarea  Pnlos- 
tina.  ...  To  maintain  that  the  oak  ia  not 
a  striking  or  abundant  tree  in  Palestine  is  a 
piece  of  critical  hardihciocl  a:s  tough  as  the  tree 
itself.  There  is  no  such  thing  in  the  countiy  as 
a  terebinth  wood  .  .  .  and  finally  the  tere- 
binth is  deciduous  and  therefore  not  a  favorite 
shade  tree.  It  is  very  rnrely  planted  in  the 
court-j  of  houses  or  over  tombs  or  in  the  i)laces 
of  reeort  ia  villages.  It  is  the  beautiful  ever- 
green oak  you  find  there."  There  are  said  to 
be  nine  different  species  of  the  oak  in  Palestine. 
Some-  of  them  are  deciduous  and  some  ever- 
green. "  We  find  the  evergreen  oaks  to  be  rep- 
resented chiefly  by  the  prickly  evergreen  or 
Kermes  oak  (Quercus  coccifera).  .  .  .  The 
insect  coccus,  from  which  it  derives  its  specific 
name  yielding  the  dye  known  as  Turkey  Red. 
.  .  ,  The  so-called  *  Abraham's  Oak '  near 
Hebron  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  this  si^ecies, 
twenty  two  feet  in  circumference.  And  the 
oak  of  Libbeiva  in  tlio  Lebanon  measures 
thirty=seven  feet  in  girth  and  its  branches  cover 
an  area  whoso  circumferouce  measures  over 
ninety  yards.  .  .  .  Another  abundant  sx^e- 
ciea  is  tho  Vaionia  or  prickly  cupped  oak  (Q. 


m 


m 


182        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


aegilojjs)  wellkno>^n  in  the  Levant,  where  its 
acorns  are  used  in  tanning,  but  the  Arabs  ent 
them  for  food."  (Groser.)  "All  the  species 
are  arborestent  or  ehrubby,  varying  in  size 
froir  the  most  stately  of  forest  trees  to  the 
dwarfish  bush.  .  .  .  The  multitude  of  spe- 
cies .  .  .  approach  300  in  number.  .  .  . 
The  spreading  branches  have  a  tendency  to 
assume  a  tortuous  form  owing  to  the  central 
shoots  becoming  abortive  and  the  growth  thus 
being  continued  laterally,  causing  a  zigzag  devel- 
opment more  exaggerated  in  old  trees  and  those 
standing  in  exposed  situations;  to  this  jjeculi- 
arity  the  picturesque  asjiect  of  ancient  oaks  is 
largely  due.  When  standing  in  dense  woods 
the  trees  are  rather  straight  and  formal  in  early 
growth,  especially  the  sessile- fruited  kinds:  and 
the  gnarled  character  traditionally  assigned  to 
the  oak  applies  chiefly  to  its  advanced  age. 
.  .  .  The  growth  of  trees  after  tlie  trunk  has 
become  hollow  is  extremely  slow.  .  .  .  The 
great  regard  paid  to  the  oak  probably  origi- 
nated in  the  value  attached  to  its  timber  and 
fruit;  the  largest  and  most  durable  of  European 
trees,  its  wood  was  looked  upon  as  the  most 
precious  produce  of  the  forest.  ...  Of  the 
'heart  of  the  oak'  the   warships  of   England 


i-  lit 


"■ere  until  lately  constructed^,,  ~, 

varies  in  color  from  ^    i  7  ''**'''''  ^'■«><1 

-''  brown,  Z!7J       '™""  '°  P'-''^  y^l^o.. 

to  work,  r,,,,,;,; J  ;^ ^-v' '"''  "-"O'' --y 

durability     and    ,  ''  '""'*  ^""^  ^r 

"■y,    and   none   stand    better  „H 

exposure  to  drought  and  moisture  t  -f  T 
eover,  it  ia  nearly  indestrucHM  T  """^"^ 
'ot  is  prevented  by  free  al.     "•    "''  "'  '"^ 

InsWpbuildingtlIe„ved  '""    "    "    " 

knees.    .  t  '     ,  ^"""'' ""^  "^«J  ^r 

fesso,  «ti,l,e,;stir'  ; t;;f  f -^-^  «-  ^on. 

«te.  sound  af.er  Th     lapltSo"'  ""'"''"'"- 
dark-colourod  oak  wood  ^  r"''''  ''^  "^ 

«™»ncl   and  exposed  hiilsMe's  H  '  ''""''' 

extremely  slow  and   fl     7  "  ^''""th   's 

-oo<ii/.ener:r      ;ty'"1''"""- 
•     •    •    The  oak  „h    7,  ^    "'"^   ^"roWe. 

»P  shoots  r  h?c7r  *•'""'  '■•'  ^«"«"  "'™- 

«''--%  nrtteT™"^^^"?-^ 
portant  produo f  ..f  ^  i  '    '     •     •    An  im. 

'7.  ~r:it.r:, ;:;;;!« ''■•■ 

material  of  Europe  m!  """*-' 

young  oak  branches  has  h ,  '  .      *  "*  *"^^ 

~.'~..,.crszr' "• 

J-he  acorn  of  the  oMlr  r^  *    *    • 

•     •     • 


II; 


iili 


liii  ' 


r;. 


131        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


111  times  of  dearth  acorns  were  boiled  and  eaten 
by  the  poor.  .  .  .  The  Turkey  oak  (Q.  Cer- 
ris)  of  southern  England  grows  twice  as  fast  as 
Q.  Robur;  in  the  mild  climate  of  Devonshire  and 
Cornwall  it  has  reached  a  height  of  100  feet  and 
a  diameter  of  four  feet  in  eighty  years.  .  .  . 
Ill  Nor  111  America,  where  the  species  of  oak  are 
very  numerous,  the  most  important  member  of 
the  group  is  Q.  alba,  the  white  oak,  abounding 
all  over  tlie  eastern  districts  of  the  continent 
from  Lake  Winnipeg  and  the  St.  Lawrence 
countries  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexican  Gulf 
.  .  .  The  young  wood  is  very  strong,  flexible, 
and   elastic;  it  is  split  into  thin  strips  to  be 


mfide    into  baskets. 


The    acorns    are 


sweet   and    were   formerly   eaten  by   the   Red 
Men."     (Brit.) 

Are  we  oaks  of  strength  in  the  Lord's  Vine- 
yard? If  we  trust  in  ourselves  we  are  as  "  weak 
as  water;"  but  if  we  constantly  and  abundant- 
ly draw  strength  from  God  we  may  be  as 
"strong  as  the  oaks."  "Bo  strong  and  quit 
yourselves  like  men."  (1  Sam.  4:  9).  The  or.k 
is  stronger  when  it  grows  in  an  exposed  place 
The  branches  become  tougher.  What  opposi- 
tion wo  have!  Evil  men  defend  their  own  lives 
by  oi)posing  the  good.     Satan  with  all  his  JioU- 


'}'l '! 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       135 


li 


ish  hosts  would  dra.fj:  us  down  to  his  abode.  As 
England  was  defended  by  her  warships  of  oak, 
so  the  Christian  is  made  safe  by  his  defence  of 
truth.  Trust  in  Jesus' strength  and  it  will  be- 
come yours.  On  rocky  soil  the  wood  of  the  oak 
is  sounder  and  firmer.  The  strongest  men  are 
those  who  have  carved  a  home  for  themselves 
out  of  the  rock.  Hard  circumstances  often 
make  our  best  citizens.  One  becomes  strong  by 
overcoming  them. 

The  acorns  of  Christians  should  be  useful  for 
tanning.  Nothing  so  preserves  as  llie  truth — 
the  Gospel  truth  lived.  Jesus  says  '*  Ye  are  the 
salt  of  the  earth."  If  it  were  not  for  the  Chris- 
tians in  the  world  it  would  sink  into  hell.  In- 
deed it  would  soon  become  so  corrupt  that  it 
would  be  hell.  The  ungodly  may  despise  Chris- 
tianity; but,  if  it  were  not  for  it,  they  would  be 
in  torments  to-day.  If  ten  righteous  men  had 
been  found  in  Sodom,  it  would  not  have  been 
destroyed.  The  tares  are  allowed  to  grow  until 
the  harvest  lest  in  pulling  them  up  the  wheat 
be  'rooted  up  also.  Then  too  the  presence  of 
the  good  keeps  people  from  sinning.  Few  use 
profanity  before  clergymen.  What  is  so  power- 
ful in  deterring  from  sin  as  public  opinion?  A 
public  Christian  sentiment  "Idas'"  (preserves 


i '  tl  s 


;r 


^ 


ill 

m 


i.ii'i  I  ■ 


^ 


■H 


' 


I 


1 


I 


14   . 


130       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

from  corruption)  far  more  than  is  f:;enerally  re- 
alized. There  is  very  little  "  tannin  "  in  some 
Christians'  lives  —  hardly  as  much  as  in  a  cup  of 
tea.  Others  surprise  us  by  their  restraining 
power.  The  profane  man  and  the  blackguard 
hold  their  peace.  Sin  in  all  its  shapes  hides  its 
head  for  shame.  The  more  we  are  like  Christ 
the  more  we  have  of  "tannin."  As  the  bark 
surrounds  the  oak,  so  an  influence  for  good 
ought  to  encircle  us. 

If  excluded  from  the  air  even  the  hardness  of 
the  oak  loses  its  strength.  So  with  persons. 
Some  shut  themselves  up  in  their  own  shells. 
The  self-absorbed  person  is  almost  smothered, 
as  he  sits  alone  in  his  little  unventilated  study, 
but  when  the  heart  goes  out  to  others  whom  he 
helps,  he  breathes  fresh  air;  he  lives.         ' 

The  secret  of  the  oak's  strength  is  its  life. 
When  the  tree  is  cut  down  the  shooLs  indicate 
this.  If  we  have  life,  we  have  power,  and 
when  wefallf  the  power  of  our  life  will  mani- 
fest itself.  Of  us  then  it  can  be  said,  "He 
being  dead  yet  speaketh."   (Hebr.  11:4). 


»» 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       137 


Oil    Tret. 


"/  will  plant  in  the  ivilderness  the  cedar,  the  acacia  free  and 
the  myrtle  and  the  OIL  TREE,''  {"or  oleaster''' )Is.  41,19. 

The  Hebrew  words  here  rendered  '"oil  tree" 
literally  mean  "the  tree  of  oil"  —  shemenets. 
Gesenius  is  at  one  with  the  Revisers — "Shemen- 
ets, oil  tree,  the  olive,  or  rather  the  wild  olive, 
oleaster."  This  is  one  of  the  thirty-five  species 
of  olea,  olive. 

"  The  wild  olive  or  oleaster  is  n  small  tree  or 
bush  of  rather  straggling  growth,  with  tiiorny 
branches  and  opposite,  oblong,  pointed  leaves, 
dark  greyish  green  above  and  in  the  young  state 
hoary  beneath  with  whitish  scales  .  .  .  the 
drupaceous  fruit  is  small  in  the  wild  plant  and 
the  fleshy  pericarp  which  gives  the  garden  ol- 
ive its  economic  value  is  hard  and  comparatively 
thin.  In  the  cultivated  forms  tlie  tree  acquires 
a  more  compact  habit,  the  branches  lose  their 
spinous  character  .  .  .  the  fruit  is  subject  to 
still  greater  alterations  of  form  and  colour;  usu- 
ally oval  or  nearly  globular,  in  some  sorts  it  is 
egg  shaped,  in  others  much  elongated;  while  the 
dark  hue  that  it  commonly  assumes  wlien  ripe 
is  exchanged  in  many  varieties  for  vioh'J,  gn;en, 
or  almost   white.     ...     It   shov.s  a  Jiiarked 


T   ~ 


I 


li 


I 

I; 


'«f 


188 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


preference  for  calcareous  soils  and  a  partiality 
for  the  sea  breezes."     (Brit.) 

We  should  learn  from  the  faults  of  men  as 
well  as  from  theJf  irtues.  So  of  our  own  de- 
fects and  failures.  "  Men  may  rise  on  stepping- 
stones  of  their  dead  selves  to  higher  things." 
(In  Memor.  Tennyson).  When  we  see  a  man 
walking  ahead  of  v.,  fail  Into  a  hole,  we  shun  it. 
So  we  ought  to  do  ii.  tl* .  moral  and  spiritual 
realm.  How  many  there  .re  of  "straggling 
growth!"  There  sefeinc  <o  s>b':)i !  in  their  ac- 
tions. All  their  lifo  is  a  tangled  skein  which 
they  seem  unable  to  straighten.  There  is  good 
in  them;  but  it  is  greatly  damaged  by  their 
snarls  and  knots.  It  seems  that  the  majority 
have  no  good  system  in  giving  to  the  Lord's 
work.  They  are  spasmodic  —  of  smcill  spasms 
of  liberality  —  of  irregular  growth.  Eminent 
business  men  even  often  lack  business  principles 
in  their  beneficence.  The  cultivated  Christian  is 
of  more  "  compact  habit."  He  lays  aside  one= 
tenth,  or  one^fifth,  as  the  case  may  be,  of  all  he 
earns.  He  is  regular  in  his  giving,  regular  in 
his  living.  Akin  to  the  man  without  system  in 
giving  is  the  slovcnhj  person.  There  is  no  sys- 
tem in  her  work.  All  is  "in  htjaps,"  She  does 
not  know  what  she  has  or  where  to  find  it 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        139 

Others  never  keep  regular  hours.  The  result  is 
dyspepsia  and  nervousness  in  oneself  and  an- 
noyance to  others.  Our  work  suffers  by  this 
fault.  Look  at  the  scrubby  oleaster  beside  the 
olive  tree.  Be  ashamed  of  your  irregularities 
and  mend  your  ways. 

Behold  the  oleaster  tree 
And  see  its  fruit  of  skin  and  stone, 
This  is  n  type  of  stingy  man 
Whose  soul  is  naught  but  skin  and  bone. 

Prov.  11:25. 

God  plants  the  olive  tends  it  well. 
What  could  He  do  that  He's  not  done? 
He  grieves  to  see  the  straggling  growth; 
He  looks  for  fruit,  but  there  is  uoue. 

Olive. 


I     * 

mil  A  UM 


•*  And  he  afayed  yet  other  seven  days;  and  again  he  sent  forth 
the  dove  out  of  the  art;,  and  to,  in  her  month  on  OLIVE 
leaf  plneked  off:  fio  NoaJi  knew  that  the  ^eaters  were 
abated  from  off  the  earth:'      Gen.  S:  10,  11. 

^' And  I  will  (fire  unto  my  two  witnesses  and  they  shall 
prophesy.  .  .  .  These  are  the  two  OLIVE-TREES. 
Rev.  11:  4,  3. 

The  root  meaning  of  zayUh  (olive  tree)  is  to 
shine.  The  olive  was  tlius  named  either  on  ac- 
count of  its  brightness  or  the  shining  of  its  oil. 
It  has  been  called  the  "  first  of  trees."  "  Italy 
retains  its  old  pro  (Mninenco  in  olive  cultivation; 
and  although  its  ancient  Gallic  province  now 


I  r 


140 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


§; 


'  excels  it  in  the  production  of  the  finer  oils,  its 
fast  improving  culture  may  restore  the  old  pres- 
tige. .  .  .  The  oliv^;  tree  even  when  free 
increase  is  unchecked  by  pruning  is  of  very 
slow  growth;  but  where  allowed  for  ages  its  n:it- 
ural  development,  the  trunk  sometimes  attains 
ii  considerable  diameter.  De  Condolle  records 
one  exceeding  23  feet  in  girth,  its  ag©  being 
supposed  to  amount  to  seven  centuries.  .  .  . 
The  tree  in  cultivation  rarely  exceeds  30  feet  in 
height.  .  .  .  The  wood,  of  a  yellow  or  liglit 
greenish  brown  hue,  is  often  finely  veined  with 
a  darker  tint;  and  being  very  hard  and  close- 
grained  is  valued  by  the  cabinet  maker  and  or- 
namental turner.  .  .  .  They  root  in  favor- 
able soil  almost  as  easily  as  the  willow.  .  .  . 
Branches  of  various  thickness  are  cut  into 
lengths  of  several  feet  each,  and,  planted  rather 
deeply  in  manured  ground,  soon  vegetate ;  short- 
er pieces  are  sometimes  laid  horizontally  in  shal- 
low trenches,  when,  covered  with  a  few  inches 
of  soil,  they  rapidly  throw  up  sucker  like  shoots. 
In  Greece  and  the  islands,  grafting  the  cultiv- 
ated tree  on  the  oleaster  is  a  common  practice. 
.  .  .  The  unripe  fruit  of  the  olive  is  large- 
ly used  ill  modern  as  in  ancient  times  as  an  art- 
icle of  dessert.     .     .     .    The  leaves  and  bark  of 


■^  ; 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        141 


the  tree  are  emi)loyed  in  the  south  ns  a  tonic 
medicine  in  intermittent  fever.  .  "  .  .  The 
olive  of  America,  O.  Americana,  a  rather  small 
tree,  growing  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  United 
States,  with  broadly  lanceolate  and  compound 
racemes  of  small  white  fragrant  flowers,  is  re- 
markable for  the  hardness  of  its  wood,  which, 
resisting  ordinary  tools  is  called  devil-wood  by 
the  southern  lumberers  and  squatters.  .  .  . 
Tlu>  white  or  yellowish  sweet  scented  flowers  of 
O.  fragrans  a  Chinese  species  are  employed  to 
communicate  their  aroma  to  some  of  their  finer 
teas.  .  .  .  The  frequent  reference  in  the 
Bible  to  the  plant  and  its  produce,  its  implied 
abundance  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  the  important 
place  it  has  always  held  in  the  economy  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Syria,  lead  us  to  consider  that 
country  the  birth  place  of  the  cultivated  olive. 
.  .  .  Yielding  profusely  with  little  labour 
that  oily  matter  so  essential  to  healthy  life  in 
the  dry  hot  climates  of  the  East  the  gift  of  the 
fruitful  tree  became  in  that  primitive  age  a 
symbol  of  peace  and  goodwill  among  the  war- 
like barbarians.  .  .  .  Among  the  Greeks 
the  oil  was  valued  as  an  important  article  of 
diet,  as  well  as  for  its  external  use.  .  .  .  tti 
modern  times  the  olive  has  been  spread  widely 
over  the  world."     (Brit.) 


'I'l 


113 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


i 


i 


The  olive  gave  its  name  to  the  Mount  of 
Olives  doar  to  every  Christian's  heart.  How 
often  Jesus  sat  there!  Judas  knows  where  to 
find  Him.  Palm  Sunday  points  to  the  Mount. 
From  the  consecrating  oil  Jesus  received  his 
name  Messiah  (Hebrew),  Christ  (Greek),  an- 
ointed (English).  There,  the  angel  strength- 
ened Him  as  He  well  nigh  fainted  beneath  the 
burden  of  our  sins.  There  two  angels  spake  to 
His  disciples,  "  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  stand 
ye  looking  into  heaven?  This  Jesus  which  was 
received  up  from  you  into  heaven  shall  so  come 
in  like  manner  as  ye  beheld  Him  going  into 
heaven."  (Acts.  1:11). 

Oil  makes  the  face  shine  (Ps.  104:  15);  and 
Fo  does  the  love  of  Christ  in  the  heart.  The 
olive  is  the  shining  tree;  the  Christian  is  the 
shining  light,  ''  among  whom  are  ye  seen  as 
lights  in  the  world,  holding  forth  the  word  of 
life."'  (Phil.  2: 15).  You  have  seen  lamps  burn- 
ing ilimlij.  The  wick  had  not  been  trimmed 
for  days,  vrceks  perhaps.  TIk^  burner  was  dark 
and  rusty.  The  chimney  black  with  soot.  An 
offensive  odor  arose  from  want  of  complete  burn- 
ing of  the  oil.  It  was  a  light  but  not  '*a  burn- 
ing and  a  shining  light  "  (John5:o5).  Such 
are  many  Christians;  lights!  indeed,  but  *"  sorry 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE     148 


lights.  It  is  no  wonder  so  many  yomiLj  men  do 
not  wish  to  be  such  lights,  smoky  and  offensive 
as  they  are;  and  they  refuse  to  receive  oil  of 
grace  from  God  and  the  spark  of  life  divine. 
Your  bodily  life  is  the  wick.  Keep  them 
trimmed  by  fervent  and  constant  prayer. 
Brush  up  the  burner  with  work  for  Jesus, 
and  boil  it  over  the  fire  of  devotion.  Clean 
your  chimney  from  the  petty  faults  and  glar- 
ing sins  of  every-day  life.  God  will  pour  the 
oil  of  His  grace  in  your  hearts  and  "turn  up" 
the  light  until  if  you  tried  to  hide  it  under 
a  bushel  it  would  burn  a  hole  through  it. 
*' Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world.  A  city  set  on 
a  hill  cannot  be  hid.  Neither  do  men  light  a 
lamp  and  put  it  under  the  bushel,  but  on  the 
the  stand;  and  it  shineth  unto  all  that  are  in 
the  house.  Even  so  let  your  light  shine  before 
men  that  they  may  see  your  good  works  and 
glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 
(Matt.  5:U-1().) 

You  remem])or  liow  in  "Pilgrim's  Progress," 
satan  failed  to  put  out  the  fire  of  devotion 
because  the  oil  was  supplied  freely.  Act  upon 
this  truth. 

*'  Brightly  beams  our  Father's  mercy 
From  His  light-house  evermore; 
But  to  us  Ho  jyivcrt  the  keepinj? 
Of  the  light?!  nlMTig  the  shore. 


'!i    I 


■    .-ii 


,1       :il 


t      ffr 


H 


I  'I 

i!  !'■! 


i 


141 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


Dark  the  night  of  sin  has  settled; 
Loud  the  angry  billows  roar; 
Eager  eyes  are  watching,  longing 
For  the  lights  along  the  shore. 

Trim  your  feeble  lamp,  my  brother: 
Some  poor  seaman  tempest  tossed, 
Trying  now  to  make  the  harbour, 
In  the  darkness  may  be  lost. 

Let  the  lower  lights  be  burning! 
Send  a  gleam  across  the  wave! 
Some  poor,  fainting,  struggling  seaman 
You  may  rescue,  you  may  save." 

P.  P.  Bliss. 

The  vitality  of  the  oliva  branch  is  wonderful. 
How  suggestive!  Put  n  twig  of  truth  in  the 
soil  of  a  heart,  and  it  grows  rapidly  and  surely. 
In  any  kind  of  soil  too,  if  il  has  been  prepared  by 
the  Holy  Spirit,  it  takes  root.  The  drunkard 
in  the  gutter  awakes  to  the  knowledge  cf  sav- 
ing truth.  A  greater  wonder  is  it  to  see  the 
olive-branch  growing  from  the  heart  of  the 
moralist  —  our  modern  Pharisee.  With  like 
surprise  we  praise  God  for  this  green  branch 
of  life,  even  in  the  society  baby  nursed  in  the 
lap  of  fashion,  amused  by  the  dance.  And  the 
dude  upon  the  street^cornor  sometimes  has 
enough  of  real  worth  in  his  being  to  feebly 
nourish  this  plant  of  grace.  The  rich  and  the 
poor,  the  educated  and  the  illiterate,  the  pol- 
ished gentleman   and  the   rough  workingman 


t'l 

'f  f 


■■'  -ems  to  prefer  «e      f'  ""^  ^-''^W^  o'-e 

circuD^stances "    "T.  '""         '''  °^  ^'"^ 

H-  gladly."  (Mart  12  TyT"  ^°^'^    ''^"'^ 

"■"ong  them  and  did,t  h  ^""^'^"^  « 

;    -  -'  thou  that  bearest  tL  .    ,t !  f ''"'^ 
f'ee.       Thou    wilt  «„„    „  *  "^^  root 

•^-kenoffthatll-Z'  ''^"^^''-J-^^  '^-^ 
by  their  unbelief  ff         ^'"""^  "'•     We]]; 

-o.,stande;si;srBer;r-- 

ed  but  fear-  for  it  r  a  *  iigh-mind- 

17-21.  °^  ^P'"-^  thee."  Rom.  n 

'-''wf'ZTf""^ 

,«-7tiana    The,  ha:f  a^^^.tre/oiT'^-t 
fee]ing,  and  i„  a  few  days  th^!  "*  ™%iou.s 

«  ti-e  the  fever  retuZ^rT"'     ^'*«^ 
life;  but  fo  say  the  hlTl  ■         ^  """"^  ^^''  ^^ 

-edmedieina]!^'!, ;';:-'"-'''>■     ^^-^ 
"-'-HteutfevertharfSIVeC:"^'''"''''^'' 


Ml 


i  • 


»■ ,  -    s 


116        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

In  this  dry  wilderness  of  life  the  oil  of  God's 
grace  is  a  necessity  for  a  pleasant  journey. 
Amid  the  burning  sands  of  tribulation  and 
under  the  tropical  sun  of  anxiety  the  Christian 

can  praise  God  saying, 

"  My  head  thou  dost  with  oil  anoint 
And  my  cup  overflows." 

The  olive  branch  is  a  symbol  of  peace  and 
good  will.  Would  this  not  be  a  suitable  orna- 
ment for  every  lome?  Would  it  always  match 
the  surroundings?  Above  all  other  places  the 
home  ought  to  be  free  from  wrangling  and 
strife  and  be  full  of  peace  and  goodwill.  Oth- 
erwise there  can  be  little  happiness  on  earth; 
and  those  who  grow  up  in  a  discordant  home 
are  likely  to  carry  discord  into  all  the  neighbor- 
hood. "Be  of  the  same  mind;  live  in  peace: 
and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with 
you.  (II  Cor.  13:  11.)  "If  it  be  possible,  as 
much  as  in  yoa  lieth  live  at  peace  with  all 
men."  (Rom.  12:  18.)  Would  that  oftener  wo 
might  hoar  the  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host 
praising  God  and  saying, — 

"Glory  to  God  in  the  Highest 

And  on  Earth  pence  among  men  in  whom  He  is 
well  pleased."  (Luke  2:  It). 

In  fruitful  years  the  produce  of  the  olive  is 

very  abundant.     Every  yo;ir  should  be  a  fruit- 


te«-    The  work  that  ou.-ht  to  h»  V      ^    '"  """ 
''^'J-      All  eternity  ,vin   !,  """'  "^  »"'■'»- 

''o^'^-    If  all  Christens   •     T  '"""  '^^   ''"ve 

f   *^esefoetst;etr7:VG^*'^^''"''- 
''onoredeveryyearbv»  '■^  ''°"M   be 

;'7t'-mrj.:::s-.;p'-..eh. 

%  tree  shall  not  blosson,      •..  *''°"R''  *''« 

««- vines;  the  Tr:;!'"  f""  ^-t  ''e 
«"d  the  fields  yield  ll      ?,'  °'''^«  «'«"  fail 

'""-  «Mb.  yet  /:?   "f"  «'"""'«  n-  iu.rd 
(Hab.  3:  IV.)  '''"  "J'-'oe  "■  the  Lord." 

«'eabat:::,,':;te;;;^^  '"^?''-''V'"  ^-''  °f 
Bevelation  (Ij.  ,    .,         '    ^^'^  ol'vo  trees  „f 

'-«■'"•'•  Are  ,ve  witnesIeT""  ""  *"°  "•''- 
y^  «teo  bear  witnerj  '  '°'  '^'""«' ''  '^  And 
-  fro-  the  be."     ;,^  7;7<'  '-o  been  with 

;■— fte„fei:e,;;;;:j:tH-''^-  ''-- 

fo*-  «s.    The  people  of  ),„        ,   ^'"'  '''"'  «';<«I 

""•"■nine  us.     Wh  ,t  '' '""'''  ">* '""'  «„.,«. 

^7-^"-Trnthls,-rrifr''''''''^-"-' 

tt::r''?"*'-"-'"-vhi:':^ 

^oiis  US  to  wifiies.s  for  Rln        ,  ^*'     '^^^"s 


if 


■  ;  '' 

i  t 


V 


BJ 


i  "i 


*fi- 


i^^l 


!  i 


U8      WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

will  I  also  confess  before  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven.  But  whosoever  shall  deny  me  before 
men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  heaven."  Matt.  10:  32,  33. 

How  fruitful  is  the  olive 

In  object  lessons  we  should  learn! 

These  are  by  far  more  wholesome  ' 

Than  olive  green  in  table  urn. 

Palm. 


'' The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  PALM  TREK:'' Pa. 

02:  12. 

'"  On  the  morroio  a  great  multitude  that  had  cotue  to  the 
feast,  ichen  they  heard  that  Jesus  ivas  coming  to  Jeru- 
salem, took  the  branches  of  the  PALM  TREES  and 
went  forth  to  meet  Him  and  cried  out,  Hosanna:  Bles- 
sed is  He  that  cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  even  the 
King  of  Israel:^  John  12 :  12,  13. 

In  Judges  (4:5)  the  word  for  palm  is  iomcr, 
a  general  term  for  the  genus.  In  Psalm  92  it 
is  tfimar,  a  specific  name  f(3r  the  date  \)'d\\\\. 
The  root  idea  is  the  same,  to  stand  forth,  to  be 
lofty.  The  Greek  word  occurring  in  John  (12: 
12)  is  'phoenixy  the  date-palm  VXia^mx  darli- 
lifera.  This  genus  (phoenix)  is  of  the?  Natural 
Order  Palmaceae.  Thus  the  Date  is  a  cousin 
of  the  Calamus. 

"The  dates  of  commerce  are  the  fruit  of  a 
species  of  palm,  Plnjenix  dactylifera.  .  .  . 
In  Arabia  it  is  the  chief  source  of  national 


^VHISPERING  LEAVEb  OF  PALESTINE       149 


wealth  and  its  fruit  formb  the  staple  artich^  of 
food  ill  that  country.  .  .  .  The  date  palm 
is  a  beautiful  tree  i^rowing  to  a  heij^ht  of  from 
sixty  to  ei^lity  foot  and  its  stem  which  is 
strongly  marked  with  old  leaf  scars  terminates 
in  a  crown  of  graceful  sliining  pinnatisect 
leaves.  .  .  .  The  fruit  is  an  oblong  drupe 
which  varies  as  much  in  size,  colour,  and  quali- 
ty under  cultivation  as  does  an  ai)ple  in  temper- 
ate regions.  .  .  .  Regarding  this  fruit  Mr. 
W.  G.  Palgrave  remarks,  'Those  who,  like  most 
Europeans  at  home,  only  know  the  date  from 
the  dried  specimens  of  that  fruit  .  .  .  can 
hardly  imagine  how  delicious  it  is  when  eaten 
fresh  and  in  central  Arabia.  Nor  is  it  when 
newly  gathered  heating  —  a  defect  inherent  in 
the  preserved  fruit  everywhere;  nor  does  its 
richness,  however  great,  bring  satiety;  in  short 
it  is  an  article  of  food  alike  pleasant  and 
healthy.'  All  parts  of  the  date  palm  yield  val- 
nable  economic  products.  Us  trunk  furnishes 
lumber  for  house  building  and  furniture;  the 
leaves  supply  thatch,  their  foot  sttdks  are  used 
ns  fuel,  and  also  yield  a  fibre  from  which  cord- 
age is  sijun."— Brit.  The  sap  of  the  palm  is 
also  drunk  as  milk.  Its  timber  is  valuable  on 
acL'ount  of  its  durability.     Mats,  baskets,  sails. 


150 


WHISPERIKG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


•t; 


and  ropes  are  made  from  its  leaves.     PhcEnicia 
is  the  land  of  the  Phoenix. 

The  very  name  of  the  palm  (Tamar)  suggests 
"  the  higher  life  "  of  the  child  of  God.  There 
is  nothing  on  earth  which  so  stands  forth,  is  so 
lofty  and  majestic  as  the  divine  life  of  the  soul. 
It  is  as  much  above  the  physical  or  mental  life 
as  the  palm  is  above  the  bramble  or  the  thistle. 
When  we  receive  that  life,  at  Regeneration,  we 
are  lifted  above  the  things  of  this  world  and  are 
akin  to  God  Himself.  "Now  are  we  children 
of  God."  (I  John  3:  2.)  Even  the  angels  of 
heaven  minister  unto  us.  So  many  forget  this 
and  drag  their  new  name  in  the  mire  of  eartli. 
They  dishonor  their  Father  in  Heaven.  Instead 
of  a  graceful  palm  they  scarcely  rise  above  the 
surface  of  the  ground  and  the  rains  spatter  mud 
upon  them.  "VVo  ought  to  ponder  our  estate 
and  live  like  princes  of  heaven.  8toop  to  noth- 
ing '*  low,"  or  mean.  This  loftiness  of  life  and 
purpose  is  the  very  opposite  of  the  |>?*o?Ki  spirit, 
which  shows  its  origin.  Every  part  of  the 
palm  tree  miiiisters  to  man,  even  to  the  beasts 
of  the  field.  Ho  the  truly  great  show  their 
greatness  by  their  service.  "  Whosoever  would 
become  great  among  you,  shall  be  your  minister 
(or  servant);    and    v»]iosoevor  would  be  first 


WHISPERING  LE^iVES  OF  PALESTINE      151 


among  you  let  liim  be  your  servant  (or  bond- 
servant): even  as  the  Son  of  Man  came  not  to 
be  ministered  unto  but  to  minister  and  to  ^;;ive 
His  Life  a  ransom  for  many."  (Matt.  20:  26- 
28.)  Christ  was  not  above  washing  the  feet  of 
others. 

The  date  palm  affords  both  food  and  drink. 
So  the  love  of  God  is  the  true  meat  and  drink 
of  the  soul.  Persons  drink  streams  of  worldly 
pleasure.  They  enjoy  the  snow-pudding  of 
popularity.  They  quaff  the  wine  of  excitement. 
Yet  their  souls  burn  with  thirst  and  are  gnawed 
with  hunger.  They  cannot  understand  how  it 
is,  although  they  know  that  salt  water  does  not 
quench  their  thirst.  When  they  taste  of  the 
sweet  goodness  of  God  their  souls  are  satisfied. 
"  O  taste  and  see  that  the  Lord  is  good;  blessed 
is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  Him."     (Ps.  JU:  8.) 

"I  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  say, 
*  Behold  I  freely  give 

The  living  water;  thirsty  one, 

Stoop  down  and  drink  and  live!' 

I  came  to  Jesus  and  I  drank 

Of  that  life=giving  stream; 

My  thirst  was  quenched,  my  sonl  revived 

And  now  I  live  in  Him." 

fionar. 

What  tree  excels  the  palm  in  beauly?    Tell 

me  what  life  is  more  beautiful  than   the  one 

radiant  with  the  love  of  God.    Its  perfect  recti- 


II 


I  1^ 


162 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


* 


tude  has  its  crown  of  beauty.  ETen  those  who 
do  not  believe  in  the  divinity  of  Jesus,  admire 
the  beauty  of  His  life.  There  is  none  to  com- 
pare. We  ought  to  be  so  like  Him  that  others 
would  be  compelled  to  acknowledge  the  beauty 
of  our  life  that  is  hid  with  Christ.  Some  see 
no  more  beauty  in  a  choice  rose  than  in  a  potato 
blossom.  So  the  beauty  of  a  soul  is  not  appre- 
ciated by  all.  "  Let  the  beauty  of  the  Lord  our 
God  be  upon  us."  (Ps.  90:  17.)  "He  is  the 
chief  est  among  ten  thousand;  yea,  He  is  alto- 
gether lovely."     ( Cant.  5 :  10,  16. ) 

The  palm  is  the  emblem  of  victory  and  tri- 
umph. '*  After  thege  things  I  saw  and  behold 
a  great  multitude  which  no  man  could  number 
out  of  every  nation  .  .  .  standing  before 
the  Throne  and  before  the  Lamb  arrayed  in 
white  robes  and  palms  in  their  hands."  (Rev. 
7:9.)  Palm  Sunday  is  an  annual  reminder  |of 
this  truth.  Those  who  love  Jesus  and  seek 
faithfully  to  serve  Him  in  life  shall  rejoice  be- 
fore the  Throne.  We  are  sure  of  ultimate  victo- 
ry. We  may  be  disappointed  all  through  life  on 
earth;  but,  if  Christ  is  our  Savior,  death  will 
usher  us  into  the  triumphal  throng.  We  ought 
to  rejoice  always  buoyed  up  by  the  hope  of  a 
glorious  future.    If  we  help  to  fight  the  battles 


"WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE     158 

of  Christ,  we  will  share  His  triumph.  In  the 
Sacrament  of  tlie  Lord's  Supper  we  have  em- 
blems that  speak  not  only  of  death  but  of 
Christ's   second    coming  in   triumph,   "Till   I 


come," 

Let  gloomy  thoughts  be  gone  for  aye, 

The  long  face  smile  and  sing. 
\\ave  high  the  palm  and  shout  and  say, 

Hosanna  to  our  King! 

Pine. 

"  /  ivill  set  in  the  desert  the  fir  tree,  the  PINE  and  the  box 
tree  together."'     Is.  41:  19. 


r\y 


There  is  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  pine. 
The  [Hebrew  ildhar  is  rendered  ulmus  (elm)  in 
the  Vuhjjate  and  nuinieijaii  (plane  tree)  in 
Chaldee.  Geseniiis  thinks  "hard  oak, holm"  is 
Ijreferable,  from  the  root  meaninijj  of  "  lasti)ig.^^ 
The  Authorized  and  Revised  Versions  agree, 
but  according  to  the  margin  of  the  Revised  the 
above  quoted  verse  would  rend,  '*  the  fir  tree, 
the  plane,  and  the  cypress  together."  Gesenius 
would  read,  "the  cypress,  the  holm,  and  the 
cedar  together."  We  will  accept  the  united 
authority  of  the  Authorized  and  Revised  Bible. 
What  saith  the  pine? 

"Pine  (pinus,  Gr.  pitus)  a  name  given  by  the 
ancient.^  to  some  of  tlio  resinous  cone-bearing 


m 


154 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


trees  to  which  it  is  now  applied,  and  as  limited 
by  modern  botanists,  the  designation  of  a  large 
genus  of    true  conifera   (abietinae),  differing 
from  the  firs  in  their  hard  woody  cone-scales 
being  thickened  at  the  apex,  and  in  their  slen- 
der needle-shaped  leaves  growing  from  a  mem- 
branous sheath,  either  in  pairs  or  fr(  >m  three  to 
five  together — each  tuft  representing  an  abor- 
1  ive  branch  springing  from  the  axil  of  a  partial- 
ly deciduous  scale-leaf,  the  base  of  which  re- 
mains closely  adherent  to  the  stem  .     .    .  their 
f  oft  straight  grained  resinous  and  often  durable 
wood  gives  to  many  kinds  a  high  economic  val- 
ue, and  some  are  among  the  most  esteemed  of 
timber  trees.     Of  the  two  leaved  species  P.  syl- 
vestris,  the  pine  of  Northern  Europe,  may  be 
taken  as  a  type.     When  growing  in  perfection 
it  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  group,  and  perhaps 
the  most  picturesque  of  forest  trees;  attaining  a 
height  of  from   seventy  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  feet,  it  is  of  conical  growth  when  young 
but  in  maturity  acquires  a  spreading  cedar  or 
mushroom  like  top  with  a  straight  trunk  of  from 
two  to  four  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base,  and 
gnarled  twisted  boughs,  densely  clothed  at  the 
extremities  with  glaucous  green  foliage,  which 
coutrnsts  strongly  with  the  fiery  red  brown  bark. 


! 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE     155 

The  leaves  are  rather  short  curved,  and  often 
twisted.  .  .  .  The  heart  wood  of  the  finer 
kinds  of  the  Scotch  fir  (P.  sylvestris)  is  of  deep 
brownish  red  color  abounding  in  the  resin  to 
which  its  durability  is  proloably  due.  For  all 
indoor  and  most  outdoor  purposes  it  is  as  last- 
ing as  oak,  and  for  ship  planking  it  is  perhaps 
little  inferior;  from  its  lightness  and  elasticity 
it  is  well  adapted  for  the  construction  of  yachts 
and  other  small  fast  mailing  craft  and  is  said  to  be 
the  best  of  all  wood  for  masts  and  large  spars.  .  . 
Great  numbers  of  young  pines  are  annually  cut 
for  railway  sleepers,  mining  timber  and  numer- 
ous agricultural  applications;  large  quantities 
are  consumed  in  forming  the  wood  pavement 
which  in  the  great  towns  is  rapidly  superseding 
stone.  .  .  .  The  inner  bark  ts  twisted  into 
ropes  and  like  that  of  spruce  is  kiln  dried 
ground  uj)  and  mixed  with  meal  in  times  of  scar- 
city. ...  In  recent  days  the  fiber  of  the 
leaves  has  been  extracted  in  .some  quantity  and 
applied  to  textile  purposes  under  the  name  of 
waldwollc  both  in  Germany  and  Sweden.  .  .  . 
It  has  some  resemblance  to  coarse  wool  and  is 
spun  and  woven  into  blankets  and  garments 
that  are  said  to  be  warm  and  durable.  Large 
(quantities  of  turpentine  are  extracted  from  this 


166 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


pine  ...  by  removing  a  strip  of  bark,  ter- 
minating below  in  a  deej)  notch  cut  in  the  wood, 
into  which  the  turpentine  runs.  .  .  .  The 
red  pine  of  Canada  and  New  England  (so  called 
fi'om  the  color  of  its  bark)  P.  resinosa,  is  a  tree 
of  considerable  size,  sometimes  attaining  the  di- 
mensions of  P.  sylvestris.  .  .  .  The  tree  is 
of  quick  growth  and  the  wood  strong  and  resi- 
nous, but  it  is  less  durable  than  the  Scotch  fir. 
.  .  .  P.  Lambertiana,  the  Giant  Pine  or  Su- 
gar Pine  of  California,  is  the  largest  of  the  ge- 
nus, rising  to  the  height  of  two  hundred  feet 
with  a  trunk  twenty  to  thirty  feet  in  girth,  and 
it  is  said,  occasionally  attaining  much  larger  di- 
mensions. The  head  is  of  a  pyramidal  form, 
the  lower  branches  dr<joping  like  those  of  a  Nor- 
way spruce,  itri  folinge  is  of  a  light  bright  green 
color.  The  pendant  cones  are  very  hirge,  some- 
ti  mes  eighteen  inches  long  and  ioiiv  inches  in 
diameter,  with  large  nut-like  seeds,  which 
pounded  and  baked,  are  eaten  by  the  Indians. 
.  .  .  The  wood  is  soft  and  nearly  white,  but 
contains  mucli  regain  which  when  fire  has  run 
tiiroiigh  the  it)rest  exudes  and  having  in  this 
half  burnt  condition  a  sweetish  taste,  has  giv- 
en Iho  common  name  to  the  tree."     (Brit.) 


ii^ 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       157 

The  leaves  of  tho  Piiins  Sylvestris  grow  in 
pairs.  So  "  it  is  not  good  that  man  should  be 
alone."  The  firs  are  solitary,  "  old  bachelors  " 
and  "  old  maids;"  the  pines  are  in  clustors  of 
two  or  more,  the  family  group.  This  fact  sug- 
gests also  a  more  general  truth.  If  one  leaf 
falls  another  is  there  to  take  its  place.  If  two 
men  go  on  a  journey  through  the  woods  or  on 
the  prairie  it  is  safer  than  for  one  to  go  alone. 
So  in  many  things,  one  can  help  another.  And 
then  too  it  is  natural  for  tho  leaves  of  the  pine 
to  grow  in  groups.  It  is  natural  for  human 
beings  to  seek  the  society  of  otliers.  And  often 
one  lady  and  one  gentleman  are  sufficient  for 
one  room. 

The  inne  is  resinous,  to  which  it  owes  its 
durability.  Kind  acts  are  tho  resin  of  Christi- 
anity. Herein  is  true  nobility.  Nothing  makes 
friendship  so  lasting  as  little  deeds  of  kindness. 
One  is  not  likely  to  "  wear  out  his  welcome  "  if 
he  is  skilful  and  watchful  to  help.  As  the  resin 
of  P.  Lambertiana  is  sweeter  when  partly  burnt, 
so  the  thoughtful  kindness  of  one  in  trouble  is 

yet  more  pleasant. 

Think  not  of  self  but  how  to  please 

And  help  your  fellow-man. 
Like  resin  in  the  wood  of  trees 

fhis  uiukes  your  livts  tiudure, 


Vl 


158        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

.  Resinous  wood  makes  a  very  hot  fire.  Kind- 
ness often  burns.  *'  If  thine  enemy  hun.u:er, 
feed  him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  to  drink;  for  in 
so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  tire  upon  his 
head."     Rom.  12:  20. 


• 


1*1 


\A 


I;  ':■? 


'■'I 

<    I':      i 


i'3 


Plane  Tree. 

"  The  cedars  in  the  garden  of  God  could  not  hide  Him:  the 
fir  trees  were  not  like  his  boughs,  and  the  PLANE 
TREES  were  not  as  his  branches:  nor  toas  any  tree  in 
the  garden  of  God  like  unto  him  in  his  beauty."  Ezek, 
31:  8. 

The  Authorized  Version  renders  the  Hebrew 
armon,  "chestnut  trees;"  the  Revised,  "plane 
trees."  The  chestnut  does  not  grow  in  Pal- 
estine. Gesenius  thus  delivers  his  judgment, 
"Armon  the  plane  tree,  platanus  orientalis 
perhaps  so  called  from  shedding  its  bark." 
With  him  botanists  agree.  Its  horizontal 
branches  wuth  their  broad  palmated4eaves 
aflPord  a  much  prized  shade.  It  grows  sixty  or 
seventy  feet  high  and  its  wood  is  valuable 
because  of  its  whiteness  and  its  fine  grain.  The 
bark  is  annually  shed  in  spots,  to  which  re- 
ference may  be  made  in  Gen.  30:  37.  It  is  said 
that  on  the  shores  of  the  Bosphorus  there  is  a 
very  lar!:^e  specimen,  fifty  feet  in  diameter  and 
ninety  feet  liigh, 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE    159 

The  shade  of  such  a  tree  may  well  reprcf-ent 
the  benign  shadow  of  English  power.  How 
grateful  it  has  been  in  Egypt!  The  islands  of 
the  sea  feel  a  security  and  a  new  life  as  they 
sit  under  the  "  Union  Jack."  All  loyal  Chris- 
tians rejoice  as  the  shadow  creeps  forward  in 
different  parts  of  Africa.  This  "Canada  of 
Ours"  is  growing  to  a  nation  under  the  pro- 
tection of  English  Warships.  In  the  fierce 
combat  of  parties  and  under  the  envious  eye 
of  another  nation,  we  ought  to  be  grateful  for 
this  shade.  What  was  said  by  Ezekiel  of  the 
Assjrrian  monarchy  can  be  said  more  fittingly 
of  the  monarchy  that  sits  on  the  Thames  and 
encircles  the  earth. 


ill 


tii 


Pomegranate. 

"  Ayid  thou  shall  make  the  robe  of  the  ephod  all  of  blue 
.  .  .  a7id  upon  the  skirts  of  it  thou  shalt  make  POME- 
GRANATES of  blue,  and  of  purple,  and  of  scarlet, 
roiind  about  the  skirts  thereof;  and  bells  of  gold  between 
them  round  about.  Ex.  2S:  31,  33. 

The  Hebrew  name  of  the  pomegranate  is  seen 
in  the  names  of  several  places  in  Palestine 
— Rimmon. 

" The  pomegranate  (Punica  granetum)  is  of 
excf  ional  interest  by  reason  of  its  structure, 
its       tory,  and  its  utility.    It  forms  a  tree  of 


IfiO 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


y 


small  stature,  or  a  bush,  with  opposite,  shining, 
lance-shaped  leaves,  from  the  axils  of  some  of 
which  proceed  the  brilliant  scarlet  flowers. 
These  are  raised  on  a  short  stalk  and  consist  of 
,1  thick,  fleshy,  cylindrical  or  belbshaped  calyx 
tube,  with  five  to  seven  short  lobes  at  the  toi). 
From  the  throat  of  the  calyx  proceed  from  five 
to  seven  roundish,  crumpled,  scarlet,  or  crimson 
petals,  and  below  them  very  numerous  slend(  r 
stamens.  The  pistil  consists  of  two  rows  of  car- 
pels placed  one  above  another,  both  rows  im- 
bedded in,  and  partially  inseperate  from  the 
inner  surface  of  the  calyx  tube.  The  styles 
are  confluent  into  one  filiform  thread.  The  fruit 
which  usually  attains  the  size  of  a  large  orange, 
consists  of  a  hard  leathery  i  ind,  which  is  the 
enlarged  calyx  tube  enclosing  a  quantity  of 
pulp,  derived  from  the  coats  of  the  numerous 
seeds.  This  pulp,  filled  as  it  is  with  refreshing 
acid  juice,  constitutes  the  chief  value  of  the  tree. 
.  .  .  The  great  structural  peculiarity  con- 
sists  in  the  presence  of  the  two  rows  of  carpels 
one  above  another  .  .  .  and  in  the  fact 
that  while  in  the  lower  series  the  seeds  are 
attached  to  the  inner  border  or  lower  angle  of 
the  cavity,  they  occupy  the  outer  side  in  the 
upper  series,  as  if  during  growth,  the   upper 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       161 


whorl  had  become  completely  bent  over." 
(Brit.)  The  fruit  rind  is  an  astringent,  owinj,^ 
to  its  "  tannin;"  and  the  root  bark  is  an  anthel- 
minthic.  Its  leaves  are  dark  and  its  fruit 
ruddy.  According  to  Dr.  Thomson,  some  of  Vac 
pomegranates  of  Jaffa  are  as  large  as  an  ostrich 

God  honored  the  loomegranate  by  putting 
representations  of  it  on  the  sacred  robes  of  the 
priest,  in  company  with  cjoJdcn  bells.  So 
Christians  should  bo  useful,  and  ornamental. 
Whilst  vanity,  in  worshipping  beauiy  or  ( In- 
gant  attire  is  to  be  despised  as  child;;  h  <•  iv.i 
shunned  as  sinful,  yet  our  Creator  wishes  us  to 
"look  our  best."  God's  love  of  the  beautiful 
has  fashioned  the  heavens  and  carpeted  the 
earth.  He  that  paints  the  glories  of  a  sunset 
sky,  and  stamps  His  image  on  the  human  i-o\\\ 
surely  could  not  b(>  woU  [)leahed  in  seeing  u 
beautiful  brow  concealed  and  made  hideous  by 
'*  the  idiot's  fringe."  Tliis  kind  of  a  "  bang''  may 
be  seen  on  nicii'.^  forelicads  among  our  North 
West  Indians.  Let  tliom  l;;ivo  the  monopoly  of 
it.  All  may  n'.i.l  sliould  wour  neat,  bocoming 
dress  to  ndorn  t\w  h.'iudiwork  of  their  Tieavenly 
Father.  (This  costs  1:0  wnn'o,  tlian  slovenly,  ill= 
cho;en,  and  outhnuli/h  costiiuies.)     T;io  Cica- 


.'i  • 


i.ii.  '• 


1G2       WniSPElUXG  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 

tor  has  adorned  Nature  with  robes  more  beauti- 
ful than  those  of  Solomon;  but  he  has  given  to 
man  the  privilege  of  self- adornment.  The  best 
adornment,  of  which  the  outer  is  but  a  symbol, 
is  that  of  the  S2)iril.  This  beauty  is  more  than 
"skin-deep."  It  will  outlast  time  and  receive 
eternal  youth  as  it  passes  through  the  gates  of 
pearl  into  the  Heavenly  Jerusalem. 

Poplar. 

'■'•Theij  siivrifice  upon  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  and  burn 
incense  upon  the  hilts,  under  oaks  and  POPLARS 
and   IVrebinths,   because   the  shade   thereof  is  good." 

llijs.  J :  13. 

Libnch,  the  Hebrew  word  here  translated  pop- 
lar, denotes  wliiieness.  The  Sei^tuagint,  the 
Vulgate,  and  both  of  our  versions  render  it 
poplar.  (Whito  poplar,  jjopulus  alba.)  Leba- 
non is  from  tlio  siime  word,  and  means  tvhite 
mr  luitain. 

"Pophir  (populus,)  the  name  of  a  small 
group  of  aborescent  amentaceous  plants,  belong- 
ing to  the  order  Solicaceao.  The  catkins  of  the 
poplars  differ  froia  those  of  the  nearly  allied 
willows  in  the  presence  of  a  rudimentary  peri- 
anth, of  oblique,  cnpshaped  form,  within  the 
toothed  bracteal  scales.  .  .  .  The  two* 
valvcd  capsule,  contahis  several  seeds,  each  fur- 


^AHISPERIXG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       163 

iiislied  'svilh  a  lonij  tuft  of  silky  or  coltoii-liko 
hairs.  .  .  .  The  leaves  arc  broader  than  iii 
most  willows  and  are  generally  either  dt'itoid 
or  ovate  in  shape,  often  cordate  at  the  base  and 
frequently  with  slender  potioles  vertically  flat- 
tened." It  is  this  flattening  of  the  petiole  that 
gives  the  le:ives  of  poplars  their  peculiar  motion. 
"  Of  the  European  kinds,  one  of  the  most 
important  and  best  marked  forms  is  the  white 
poplar  or  abele,  P.  alba,  a  tree  of  large  size 
with  rounded  spreading  hepd  and  curved 
branches,  which  like  the  trunk  are  covered  with 
grayish  white  bark,  becoming  much  furrowed 
on  old  stems.  .  .  .  As  in  all  x)oplars  the 
catkins  expand  in  early  spring,  long  bt^fore  the 
leaves  unfold.  .  .  .  The  wood  is  very  white 
and  from  its  soft  and  even  grain  is  employed 
by  turners  and  toy^makers,  while  being  tough 
and  little  liable  to  split  it  is  also  serviceable  for 
the  construction  of  packing  cases,  thi'  lining  of 
carts  and  wagons  and  many  similar  jjurposes. 
The  aspon  forms  an  important  section.  .  . 
P.  Canadensis."  (Canadian  i)0[)]ar.)  ''"j'lio  'cot- 
ton wood'  of  the  Western  prairies  and  its  vnri- 
eties,  are  perliaps  the  most  useful  trees  of  the 
genus.  ...  P.  nuKiophylla  or  candicans 
comr.ionlv  known  as  the  Ontario  Por,lar,  U  ro* 


r^ 


.  :t: 


I: 


164       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

niarkable  for  its  very  large  heart-shaped  leaves, 
sometimes  ten  inches  long.  .  .  .  The  buds 
are  covered  with  a  balsamic  secretion.  The 
Irue  balsam  poplar  or  Tacamahae,  P.  balsam- 
iferae,  abundant  in  most  parts  of  Canada  and 
the  Northern  States  is  a  tree  of  rather  large 
growth  .  .  .  with  oblong,  ovate  sharp* 
l)ointed  leaves,  the  base  very  cordate,  the  peti- 
oles round,  and  the  disk  deep,  glossy  green 
above,  but  somewhat  downy  below.  ...  In 
Northern  habitats  it  attains  a  large  size;  the 
wood  is  very  soft;  the  buds  yield  a  gum-like 
balsam;  considered  valuable  as  an  antiscorbatic. 
This  is  said  also  to  have  diuretic  properties. 
.  .  .  This  balsam  gives  the  tree  a  fra:^rant 
odor  when  the  leaves  are  unfolding."  (Brit.) 
The  heart  shaped  tremulous  leaves  whisper 
their  sweet  story  of  love.  A  heartless  man  or 
woman  is  a  most  unlovable  creature.  We  meet 
them  ill  polite  society  as  well  as  amcmg  tlie  un- 
coulli  ignoramuses.  The  dainty  idol  cf  elite 
circle  s  that  trilies  with  the  hearts  of  men  is  uu- 
W(»i  Ihy  of  her  own  sex  and  forfeits  ''o  respect 
of  tlie  other.  Heartless  men  are,  pernap;s  more 
]{umorous.  Our  acts  as  well  ns  our  words  ought 
to   reveal    the   tenderness  of  our  hearts.    We 


iii 

ill  I 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  I'ALESTINE        165 


ought  to  hj  hcdiiu  in  every  good   cause  —  most 
hearty  in  serving  the  Lord  of  our  hearts. 

The  whiteness  of  the  leaves  is  but  a  glimmer- 
ing of  the  whiteness  within.  Some  people  have 
all  their  whiteness  outside — "whited  sepul- 
chres." When  persons  are  only  wit ite- washed 
with  goodness,  their  true  nature  will  doubtless 
sometimes  reveal  itself.  The  Searcher  of  Hearts 
at  all  times  sees  "through  and  through"  us. 
Only  entire  and  absolute  purity  can  enter  heav- 
en. "Who  then  can  be  saved?"  Only  those 
who  are  cleansed  from  sin  in  the  blood  cf  Christ. 
In  Him  alone  can  we  be  "  whiter  than  the  snow." 

"  There  is  a  fountain  tilled  with  blood 
Drawn  from  Emmanuel's  veins; 
And  sinner.s  plunj^ed  beneath  that  flood 
Lose  all  their  guilty  stains." 

Poppy. 

^^  Ju(Pjiuent  springefh  np  ns  HEMLOCK  in  the  furrows  of 
of  thefieldy     Rosea  10:  4. 

Rosh,  here  rendered  hemlock,  is  thought  by 
Gesenius  to  mean  the  poppy,  from  its  heads, 
as  rosh  signifies  head.  It  is  "  the  name  of  a 
poisonous  plant  (Deut.  29:  18),  growing  quickly 
and  luxuriantly  (Hos,  10:4),  of  a  bitter  taste 
(Ps.  69:  22)."  In  Deuteronomy  and  Psalms  it 
is  translated  "gall." 


w\ 


n;o 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


;  *■ 


m 


■w 


.1  \ 


The  botanical  name  of  the  garden  poppy  is 
Paxfciver  somnifernm.  It  is  grown  for  ornamen- 
tation; but  it  is  chiefly  famed  for  its  oil  and  its 
opium.  The  Bohemians  use  the  seed  like  cara- 
way  seed  in  making  cakes  and  biscuits.  "  Poppy 
oil  is  obtaijied  by  pressure  from  the  minute 
seeds  of  the  garden  or  opium  poppy  .  .  . 
This  oil  is  a  valuable  and  much  used  medium 
for  artistic  oil  i^ainting.  Th.e  fino  qualities  are 
largely  used  in  tlie  nortli  of  France  and  in  Ger- 
many as  a  salad  oil,  and  are  less  liable  tlia^i 
olive  oil  to  rancidity.  The  absence  of  taste  and 
characteristic  smell  in  poppy  oil  also  leads  to  its 
being  much  used  for  adulterating  olive-oil.  .  . 
.  The  oil  is  very  extensively  used  in  the  valley 
of  the  Ganges  and  other  opium  regions  for  food 
and  domestic  purpocos.  .  .  .  Opium,  a  nar- 
cotic drug  prepared  from  the  juice  of  the  opium 
poi^py.  ...  At  present  it  is  estimated  that 
south  western  China  produces  not  less  than  224, 
000  piculs,  while  the  entire  import  from  India 
does  not  exceed  100,000  piculs  (of  1:53 ,'.  lbs.). 
Opium  is  now  produced  in  nine  out  of  the  eight- 
een provinces  of  China."  Nearly  all  the  opium 
used  for  medicine  conies  from  Turkey.  Before 
the  seeds  are  ripe  shallow  incisions  are  made  in 
the  .'^eed^pod  of  the  po]  py  in  the  afternoon  ni)'] 


I   !i( 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       KJT 


the  dried  juice  that  exudes  is  collected  the  next 
morniiip:.  "  This  is  done  by  scraping  the  cap- 
sule with  a  knife  and  transferring  the  concreted 
juice  to  a  poppy  leaf  held  in  the  left  hand,  the 
edges  of  the  leaf  being  turned  in  to  avoid  spill- 
ing the  juice,  and  the  knife^blade  moistened 
with  saliva  by  drawing  it  through  the  mouth 
after  every  alternate  scraping  to  prevent  the 
juice  from  adhering  to  it.  The  whole  of  the 
operation  must  of  course  be  completed  in  the 
few  days  —  five  to  ten  —  during  which  the  cap- 
sules are  capable  of  yielding  the  drug.  .  .  . 
Turkey  opium  is  principally  used  in  medicine 
Oil  account  of  its  purity  and  the  large  percent- 
age of  morphia  that  it  contains,  a  comparative- 
ly small  quanity  being  ex^Dorted  to  China."  In 
India  the  foulest  adulterations  are  used,  of 
which  the  account  is  unfit  for  publication,  and 
"the  opium  farther  kneaded  and  mixed  by  men 
wading  through  it  from  end  to  end  until  it  ap- 
l^ears  to  be  of  a  uniform  consistence.  .  .  . 
The  activity  of  the  opium  is  ijrincipally  due  to 
the  vegetable  alkaloid  morphia  or  morphine, 
which  opium  of  good  quality  contains  to  the 
extent  of  eight  to  seventeen  per  cent,  the  aver- 
age amount  being  ten  per  cent."  Its  medicinal 
uses    are    many;    and   when  the  human  sys- 


168       AVHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


P  S>:  ' 


(  ( 


P  i!  r 


tern  once  receives  it,  it  craves  for  a  repetition  of 
the  medicine.  Those  who  use  it  medicinally 
are  in  groat  danger  of  becoming  "opium  eaters." 
To  break  off  the  habit  of  opium  eating  is  ex- 
ceedingly difficult  and  can  be  effected  only  by 
actual  oxternal  restraint  or  the  strongest  effort 
of  a  powerful  will.  .  .  .  Opium  smoking  is 
chiefly  practised  by  the  inhabitants  of  China 
and  the  islands  of  the  Indian  xVrchipelago  and 
in  the  countries  where  Chinese  labor  is  largely 
employed.  It  is  said  to  have  commenced  in 
China  forty  or  fifty  years  before  the  English 
began  to  import  opium  into  that  country.  In 
1858  it  was  estimated  tiiat  about  2,000,000  of 
Chinese  smoked  opium  and  in  1878  from  one^ 
fourth  to  one^third  of  the  entire  population  of 
400,000,000.  .  .  .  Largo  quantities  of  mor- 
phia are  exported  to  China  from  Europe  for  the 
l^iupose  of  preparing  the  so  called  '  cure  for 
opium  smoking,'  which  consists  of  one41iird  of 
a  grain  hydrochlorate  of  morphia  mixed  with  a 
little  powdered  rice.  The  powders  are  taken  at 
gradually  increasing  intervals  until  the  morphia 
is  left  off  altogether.  Mr.  Allen  Williams  in  a 
work  recently  published  states  that  there  are 
now  neai'ly  n  million  persons  in  the  United 
States  who  indulge  in  opium  smoking  and  the 


:     1 
^1 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       169 


habit  seems  to  be  on  the  increase.  ...  So 
far  as  can  be  gathered  from  the  confliciinij^ 
statements  on  the  subject,  opium  smoking  may 
be  regarded  much  in  the  same  light  as  the  use 
of  alcoholic  stimulants.  The  effect  in  bad  cases 
is  to  cause  loss  of  appetite,  a  leaden  pallor  of 
the  skin  and  a  degree  of  leanness  so  excessive  as 
to  make  the  victims  appear  like  living  skeli'tons. 
All  inclination  for  exertion  becomes  gradually 
lost,  businef^s  is  neglected  and  certain  ruin  to 
the  smoker  follows.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  the  use  of  the  drug  is  opposed  by  all  think- 
ing Chinese  who  are  not  pecuniarily  interested 
in  the  opium  trade  or  cultivation,  for  several 
reasons  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 
drain  of  bullion  from  the  country,  the  decrease 
of  population,  the  liability  to  famine  through 
the  cultivation  of  opium  where  cereals  should 
be  grown,  and  the  corruption  of  state  officials," 
(Brit.) 

The  way  in  which  opium  is  gathered,  adulter- 
ated, and  mixed  should  turn  all  opium  eaters 
and  smokers  against  their  habit.  Who  wishes 
to  use  the  saliva  of  the  natives  of  India?  Or 
who  the  washings  of  their  feet?  Or  who  their 
foul  adulterations?     (The  same  argument  holds 


170       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


!■    !■ 


It 


i    ,  , 


good  in  the  case  of  tobacco,  especially  in  tho 
form  of  cigarettes.) 

What  an  emblem  of  sin  is  the  poppy!  Seo 
the  hold  it  has  npon  its  victims!  They  arc- 
powerless  to  give  it  up;  and  every  time  they  in- 
dulge, its  power  over  them  is  stronger.  The 
craving  is  unbearable.  Tlie  impulse  toward  it 
is  irresistible.  It  is  like  a  person  sinking  in  a 
muskeg  of  the  Western  Prairies.  For  a  time 
he  does  not  realize  his  danger,  then  he  tries  to 
escape.  As  he  seeks  to  pull  out  one  foot  the 
other  sinks  deeper.  Slowly  inch  by  inch  he 
sinks  down,  dowu.  He  feels  the  power  draw- 
ing him  lower  and  lower,  and  he  is  helpless. 
It  now  seizes  his  body.  His  hands  bet'ome 
fastened  and  in  utter  despair  he  looks  around 
for  help  when  it  is  too  late.  Slowly  but  surely 
he  sinks  into  a  living  grave.  O,  my  brother, 
beware  of  the  muskeg!  Beware  of  opium!! 
Beware  of  SIN!!!  You  are  poweiless  in  the 
grasp  of  the  devil.  Sin  after  sin  will  drag  you 
down  into  a  living,  eternal  death.  Are  yo;;r 
feet  stuck  in  the  muskeg?  Cry  to  God  while 
He  is  near.     None  other  can  save. 

The  poi)py  grows  rapidly.  How  like  sin! 
Do  you  not  know  rio;no  who  for  years  kept 
sin  under  control,  were  n^spected  and  esteeni- 


5     '.. 


I    ! 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE       171 

ed;  but  all  at  once  siii  sprang  up  like  tlie  pop- 
py? Their  lives  were  covered  with  shame. 
The  seed  ripened  and  fell  into  conj^euial  soil. 
Alas!  Hovv  great  the  harvest  in  eternity! 

How  bitter  it  is !  S])ii'itual  gall.  How 
deadly!  Yet  man  cannot  abstain,  thongli  Iio 
shudders  while  he  takes  it.  Tlie  effects  are 
misery  itself.  He  knows  the  fire  burns  and  yet 
he  takes  it  into  his  bosom.  O!  the  power  of 
sin !  The  mockery  of  sin !  Would  God  that  man 
would  take  the  remedy!  The  lour,  of  God 
sweetens  life,  gives  health  to  the  poisoned, 
peoj)les  heaven 

Man's  folly  is  like  the  Rocky  M(mntains — "  I 
must  commit  this  sin  and  that  in  order  to  be  a 
man."  It  is  a  trap  of  Satan.  Sin  like  the  pop- 
py destroys  the  power  of  the  will,  like  a  ring  in 
an  animal's  nose;  weakens  strengtli,  like  a  run- 
ning Bore;  puts  out  hope,  like  a  flood  of  water 
the  smonldering  flax;  mak"S  hiiii  a  Inirden  to 
himself  and  others,  until  he  falls  into  his  grave 
a  living  skeleton. 

How  showy  the  poppy  blossom!  How 
charming  is  sin.  Men  put  it  under  tlieir  pil- 
lows and  sleej)  the  sleep  of  death.  They  eat  its 
fruit  and  are  burned  with  its  acid  fires.  God 
sent  His  Son  to  warn  us  of  its  poison,  and  to 
provide  a  remedy,  oven  His  own  blood. 


•i  i 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE; 

Awake,  O  brother,  hear  thy  G(d 
Who  died  to  save  thy  soul  from  liell. 
Tho  devil  offers  thee  the  pod, 
Whose  hardened  Juice  is  living  doatii. 

The  bloom  of  sin  is  bright  and  fair: 
It  charms  the  eye;  but  i)uts  to  ^;leep 
The  one  who  braids  it  in  his  hair 
And  boasts  it  makes  him  like  a  inr.n. 

And  many  say  the  seeds  are  small: 
They  throw  it  broadcast  on  the  soil; 
But  soon  they  see  it  grow  so  tall, 
They  see  nought  else,  so  fast  it  gr-v^s. 

The  pod  grows  ripe,  the  juice  exu'lt.--; 
They  take  the  glistening  drop  and  tat, 
Despite  the  taste,  the  constant  feuds 
Of  good  and  bad  that  will  arise. 

When  once  they  taste  they  cannot  .-top. 
With  will  and  mind  and  strength  enslaved 
They  dip  again  and  eat  the  sop 
That  every  virtue  makes  a  vice. 

The  soul  is  wretched,  wasted,  lean, 
A  skeleton  of  living  death. 
Tho  awful  cravings  are  more  keen; 
And  soon  it  falls  into  the  grave. 

O  slave  of  sin,  there  is  a  cure. 
From  Heaven  our  God  has  brought  it  down 
Look  now  to  Him,  the  healing's  ruro; 
And  you  will  praise  His  name  for  aye. 

"Rie" 


This  word  does  not  occur  in  the  Revised  Ver- 
sion.    In  t]io  two  instances  in  wliicli  it  occurs 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE      173 


in  the  Authorizel  (Ex.  9:  32;  Is.  28:  25)  it 
is  the  rendering  of  tlie  Hebrew  kussemeth.  It 
derives  its  name  from  the  bald  or  shorn  ear. 
How  often  a  man  is  shorn  of  his  strength,  like 
Samson,  by  some  sin!  Take  a  beautiful  bird 
and  singe  its  feathers.  What  a  pitiful  sight! 
How  much  more  pitiful  is  man,  made  in  the 
Image  of  God,  singed  by  sin! 

Rose. 

"  T7ie  desert  shall    rejoice,  and  blossom  as  the  HOSE  [or 
auttim  crocus).    Is.  35:1. 

Authorities  are  not  agreed  as  to  what  the 
word  Hhabatseleth  is  applied.  Its  meaning  is 
a  80?^' acrid  bulb.  It  is  a  "flower  growing  in 
the  meadows  and  pastures  which  the  ancient 
Versions  render  sometimes  the  liltj  and  some- 
times the  narcissus.  More  accurate  however 
is  the  Syrian  translator  who  uses  the  same 
word  .  .  .  which  signifies  the  Colchicum 
autumnale,  Linn,  or  meadow  saflPron,  an  au- 
tumnal flower  similar  to  saffron,  springing 
from  poisonous  roots,  and  of  a  white  and  violet 
colour."  Gesenius.  Thus  the  Rose,  Queen 
of  Flowers,  must  be  denied  a  place  among  the 
sacred  group  of  the  Holy  Land. 


i 


at^r 


171 


WHISPEIIIXG  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


ialaon. 


^'Spikenard  and  SAFFRON,  calami;!^  and  citnutynon,  with 
(tlltrcpfi  of  franldnccnsc;  iiiyr'h  and  aloc:<,  with  all 
the  c/i it f  spices.''^     Caul.  4:  11. 

Kurkom  is  tlie  Helnvw  name  of  tlio  sfiilroii, 
or  crocus,  both  the  common  phmt  and  the  Indi- 
an saffron. 

"Saffron  is  manufactured  from  the  dried  stig- 
mas and  i)art  of  the  style  of  the  saffr^jn  crocus, 
a  cultivated  form  of  the  crocus  sattviis  .  .  . 
the  purple  flower  %Y^hich  hloonis  late  in  autumn 
is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  conimon  spring 
crocus;  and  the  stigmas  which  are  protruded 
from  the  perianth  are  of  characteristic  orange- 
red  colour.  .  .  .  Saffron  was  used  as  an  in- 
gredient in  iriany  of  the  complicated  medicines 
of  early  times.  .  .  .  It  appears  to  ])e  really  a 
stimulant  and  antispasmodic  though  its  powers 
are  sligiit.  .  .  .  It  is  scarcely  ever  employ- 
ed hy  modern  liharmacisis  unle "s  for  tae  mere 
('(^loration  of  other  tinctures  or  at  most  as  a  cor- 
dial adjunct  to  other  iiiediciius  .  .  .  large- 
ly uioxl  ill  cookery.  .  .  ,  It  was  liowever 
maiidy  us,'<I  Jis  u  tlye.  It  was  n  royiil  coloiu*  in 
(Mirly  Greek  times."' (Brit.) 

There  i^i  much  i'l  flavor.  UDpleasaiit  nu  di- 
finos}  r.iv  l.oller  liked  \f:  .l.-ivorod  v,i(ii  satTron. 


WIIISPEPvING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


Butter  with  ;i  flavorinf,^  of  rancidity  is  not  con- 
sidered a  delicacy.  A  genial  man  becomeo 
offensive  to  the  pure  v;lien  lie  is  knovn  to  be 
corrupt,  flavored  with  vik^  sins.  Yet  often  he 
i.-i  unconscioas  of  the  liavor  and  continues  bold 
in  his  effrontery.  But  tfistes  differ.  Some 
seem  to  delight  in  upholding  those  reeking 
with  the  fumes  of  the  liquor  thoy  deal  out  to  oth- 
ers. The  flavoring  of  wealth  or  rank  makes  pal- 
titable  to  them  the  most  nauseous  viands.  The 
flavor  of  sin  seems  in  high  repute  among  those 
living  in  sin.  They  revel  in  unseemly  things. 
For  exnmi)le  one  wdio  is  smoking  does  not  mind 
the  smoke  of  others.  A  vile  person  associates 
with  the  vile.  But  the  child  of  God  loathes 
even  the  flavor  of  sin  and  relishes  nothing  that 
is  not  flavored  with  the  love  of  God. 

Often  we  hear  it  asked,  ''What's  in  a  name?" 
As  well  might  wc  ask,  What's  in  a  color?  The 
color-blind  dogmatically  say  nofhiin/.  But 
what  says  the  ojie  that  is  gazing  entianced 
upon  th(-  glory  of  a  sunset?  Or  that  cannot 
take  l).is  eyes  off  iho  dolicaic  s! ladings  of  a 
lovely    flov.er?     What    j(»y    ihow    is  in  color! 

And  also  what  misery!  Sonu)  v/ear  green 
spectacles  and  jealousy  c>)!itinually  gnaws  their 


hei\] 


»;i 


iff 


banron    was   a  roy 


al  color  in   Greek 


170       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


i  ' 


times;  the  rosy  hue  of  liope  is  the  divine  color, 
cast  upon  the  earth  from  Heaven's  open  gate. 
Thcise  who  love  God  can  })raise  His  name. 
"That  by  two  immutable  thinL^s  in  which  it  is 
impossible  for  God  to  lie,  we  may  liave  a  strong 
encouragement  who  have  fled  for  refuge  to 
lay  hold  of  the  ho2)e  set  before  us;  which  we 
have  as  an  anchor  of  the  sonl,  a  hope  both  sure 
and  steadfast  and  entering  into  that  which  is 
within  the  veil."     (Hebr.  0:  18,  19.) 


Shittah  Tree. 


I  u 


I  •; 


"  T}u'i(  shall  make  an  ark  of  SHITTIM  wood.     Ex.  25:  10. 

The  Hebrew  word  for  tliis  tree  is  left  un- 
translated. It  iri  "  the  acacia,  i.  e.  acacia  vera, 
the  Spina  iEgyptiacn  of  the  ancients.  ,  .  . 
It  is  a  largo  tree  growing  in  Ej'jypt  aud  Ai'ahia; 
its  l)ark  is  covered  with  l;ir;'(>  blm-k  thorns; 
tlie  wood  is  exceedingly  hard  and  when  old 
resembles  ebony  .  .  .  Shittiin,  jjlural  .  . 
acacias,  whence  also  s'iitiii;i,  acacia  wood, 
of  wliicli  the  i'lirnititre  and  woodwork  of  the 
Taberiuiclt^  wore  construe! ed.*'  (Ges.)  ll  seems 
to  have  giv'>n  ils  name  id  a  district  east  of  the 
Dead  Sea  (Ex.  iio:  1).  Hence  it  may  be  look  el 
upoi!  n'3  indigenouM  to  Pfdestine. 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE        177 


"  Acacia  a  2;eniis  of  shrubs  and  trees  belong- 
ing to  the  Natural  Family  Leguminosae  and 
the  section  Mimoseae.  The  flowers  are  small, 
ranged  in  rounded  or  elongated  clusters.  The 
leaves  are  compound  pinnate  in  general.  In 
some  instances  however,  more  especially  in  the 
Australian  species  the  leaf  stalks  became  flatten- 
ed and  serve  the  purpose  of  leaves.  The  plants  are 
tience  called  leafless  acacias,  and  as  the  leaf 
stalks  are  often  placed  wUli  their  edges  towards 
the  sky  and  earth  they  do  not  intercept  the  light 
as  fully  as  ordinary  trees.  There  are  about  420 
species  of  acacias,  widely  8catt<'red  over  the 
warmer  regions  of  the  globe.  .  .  .  Various 
species  yield  gum  Arabic  .  .  .  while  acacia 
seyal,  etc.,  furnish  a  similar  gum  called  gum  sen- 
eg.il  .  .  .  aeacia  seyal  is  the  plant  supposed 
to  be  the  Shittah  of  the  Bible."     (Brit.). 

The  Shittah  tree  is  like  a  cactus,  thorns  all 
over.  Its  animal  countt^rpart  is  the  hyena  and 
some  kinds  of  men.  If  you  touch  them  they 
snarl,  perhaps  bite.  They  are  of  a  cabbed  dis- 
position. One  needs  to  be  careful  how  he  "hand- 
les*"' them.  Yet  they  wdij  he  very  relial)le  and 
of  Bterling  worth.  The  exterior  alone  may  be 
I'ough-  like  the  acacia  seyal;  or  their  hearts  nuiy 
be  like  their  manners.      The  //;//(/  hyena  i.s  very 


I  l' 


1   i 


178       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

unenviable  company;  but  man's  austere  nature 
may  be  tamed  by  grace.  He  is  then  the  acacia 
Christian.  Thorns  may  still  be  felt,  but  his 
heart  is  true  though  somewhat  hard.  Some  per- 
sons whose  manner  and  dress  are  rough  have  a 
most  lovable  inner  life.  The  unpleasant  coat 
may  hide  a  tender  heart.  Those  naturally  of 
gentle  ways  ought  to  have  more  patience  with 
the  rough  exterior  of  a  trusty  person.  To  meat 
them  may  be  to  dislike  them ;  but  to  know  them 
is  to  love  them.  The  thorny  bark  of  the  Shit- 
tali  tree  conceals  a  hard  wocxl,  like  ebony,  much 
prized  and  used  in  the  Wilderness  forthewood- 
W(jrk  of  the  taberiuicle.  God  looks  upon  the 
heart  not  upon  the  bark  of  human  life. 

In  some  cases  the  acacia  tree  affords  almost  no 
shade  There  is  a  danger  of  acacia  Christians 
being  thus  defective  in  comforting  others. 
Austerity  and  peevishness  are  defects;  and  those 
thus  afflicted  ought  to  labor  to  redeem  them; 
but  (itheivs  should  rememl)er  that  the  wood  is 
more  important  than  the  Ijark,  more  abiding 
than  the  shade.  Tlie  acacia  seyal  in  spite  of  its 
thorny  bark  was  chosen  as  tlu^  wood  of  which 
the  most  holy  ark  was  made.  It  speaks  to  us 
of  the  ten  Comniaudnu^nts,  tho  Mercy  8oat,  the 
pot  of  manna,  and  Aaron's  rod  that  budded, 


ii 


"WniSPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        179 


Ih 

e 


Sycamine  or  Sycamore. 

"And  the  Lord  said,  if  ije  Juni'  faith  as  a  grain  of  viustard 
seed,  ye  ivoidd  saij  xinto  this  SYCAMINE  tree,  be  thoti 
tooted  np,  and,  he  thou  planted  in  the  sea;  and  it  ivoiild 
have  oljeyed  yoit."     Luke  17 :  6. 

^'^  And  the  king  made  silver  to  be  in  Jerusalem  as  stones,  and 
cedars  made  he  to  be  as  SYCAMORE  trees,  that  are  in 
the  lowland,  for  abundance.'''     1  Kings  lo:  '27. 

Tlie.se  Greek  and  Hebrew  words  are  names  of 
the  same  tree.  It  resembles  the  mulberry  tree 
in  its  leaves  and  general  appearance,  with  fruit 
similar  to  tho  fig,  growing  directly  from  the 
stem  and  large  boughs,  and  very  difficult  of  di- 
gestion. .  .  .  The  fruit  is  used  (jnly  by  the 
poorest  classes,  and  its  ripening  could  be  hast- 
ened by  artificial  nipping.''  (Gesenius.)  Hence 
the  Greek  sycamores,  fig  mulberry,  Ficus  syca- 
morus.     See  under y/r/ /rrr. 

The  sycamore  wln*si)ers,  The  jH'ophet  Amos 
gathered  my  fruit  and  ZacchiDus  sat  in  my 
branches.  I  feed  only  the  Moor,  but  they  need 
fo(id  more  than  the  rich.  Help  the  needy  for 
others  can  help  themselves,  my  ])ranches  are 
wide-spreading:  and  it"  you  fiM'd  the  pv)or  you 
will  be  known  far  and  wide  as  a  l)en»'factor. 
But  I  could  not  have  such  branches  if  it  were 
not  for  my  trunk  and  my  roots.  If  you  will 
ser^'e  the  poor  you  niuet  have  backbone  enough 


180        WHISPERING  liEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


lit 


>■   '■<; 


to  stand  the  winds  of  derision  and  contempt  of 
the  high  (?)  mediocrity;  and  your  root  of  faith 
must  take  strong  hold  of  the  Rock  of  Ages.  It 
is  not  hot  house  Christians  that  are  strong  like 
I  am.  You  need  storms  to  strengthen  you. 
Don't  be  afraid  to  speak  the  truth,  and  speak  it 
plainly.  Never  mind  if  men  get  angry  and  Imrl 
reproaches  at  you.  If  you  take  a  pig  by  the  ears 
to  draw  it  out  of  the  mire  it  will  squeal ;  but  nev- 
er mind  the  music.  Pull  away  and  hold  on  the 
firmer.  Vile  sinners  make  the  same  music  and 
resort  to  the  same  logic.  It  is  a  sure  sign  your 
words  are  felt.  Be  not  silenced.  "  Blessed 
are  ye  when  men  shall  reproach  you,  and  perse- 
cute you,  and  say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you 
falsely,  for  my  sake.  Rejoice,  and  be  exceeding 
glad:  for  great  is  your  reward  in  heaven:  for  so 
persecuted  they  the  prophets  which  were  before 
you."    (Matt.  5:11,  12.) 

The  wood  of  the  sycamore  tree  was  used  for 
idols.  How  oftei;  man  makes  idols  of  good 
things!  God  put  "  all  things  in  subjection  un- 
der his  feet  ^''  (llebr.  2:  bi)  ;  but  he  takes  them 
up  into  his  heart.  Instead  of  using  God's  gifts 
they  bow  the  knee  to  them  and  dishonor  their 
Creator.  Gold,  pleasure,  fame,  even  children 
may   be   thought   more  <jf  than   GkI    himself, 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE      181 


There  is  need  even  in  Christian  lands  for  the 
First  Commandment  "  Thou  shalt  have  none 
other  Gods  before  me."     (Ex.  20:  3). 

Tares. 

"  The  Kingdom  of  heaven  is  likened  unto  a  man  that  sowed 
good  seed  in  his  field:  but  tvhile  men  slept,  his  enemy 
came  and  sowed  TARES  (ov  darnel)  also  among  the 
wheat,  and  ivent  aivay."     Matt.  13:  24,  25. 

"  Zizanion  .  .  Eng.  darnel,  i.  e.  bolium  te- 
mulentum  ...  a  weed  or  grass  growing, 
among  grain  and  other  kinds  <jf  grain,  and  fit 
first  having  a  close  resemblance  to  them  .  .  . 
the  Rabbins  called  it  bastard  wheat  .  .  . 
English  version  tares."     (Robinson.) 

In  the  north  of  France  (ejected  tenants  often 
si)oil  the  crops  of  the  landlords  by  sowing  these 
tares.  What  fiends!  Are  they  worsi^  than  those 
who  deliberately  soil  the  fair  name  of  some  in- 
nocent rival?  Tt  is  certainly  worse  to  injnre  one's 
name  tlian  to  ruin  his  wheat  crop.  Think  of 
that  ye  backbiters.  "Thou  shalt  not  bear  false 
witness  against  t.iy  neighbor."'     Ex.  20:  10. 

The  wheat  represents  Christians,  the  tares 
nonchristians.  At  fir^t  tliey  look  just  alike  to 
the  eye  of  man.  Thus  tares  get  into  churches. 
After  awhile  the  wheat  begins  to  bear  fruit  (and 
oh!  ii  is  so  long  before  with  some);  then  appear 


182 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


ilio  tares,  discernible  even  to  a  child.  "  By  their 
fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  Some  person.s  de- 
ceive others,  even  deceive  themselves,  but  they 
cannot  deceive  God;  and  sooner  or  later  their 
own  acts  reveal  their  true  nature.  They  be- 
come more  and  more  different  from  the  children 
of  God.  The  gulf  between  them  widens  until  it 
is  impassable  and  fixed  after  death.  Before  the 
eternal  throne  of  Justice  they  will  stand  un- 
masked. In  this  life  the  natural  law  may  yield 
to  the  supernatural,  and  by  grace  the  tares  be- 
come wheat.  Through  faith  in  Christ  we  re- 
ceive this  new  nature  and  become  ''  new  crea- 
tures." 

Thistles. 

^^  And  uv to  Adam.  He  said  .  .  .  cnrsed  is  the  f/rmmd  for 
thy  sake  .  .  .  thorns  also  and  TIIISTLEIS  shall  it 
bring  forth  to  thee.''''     Gen.  3:17,18. 

*^Do  men  gather  grapes  of  thorns,  or  Jigs  of  THISTLESf^ 
Matt.  7:  10. 

In  the  New  Testament, thistle  is  the  English 
equivalent  of  the  Greek  '*  tribolos,  throe  pohited, 
three-pronged,  .  .  .  thistle,  brier,  a  low 
thorny  shrub,  so  called  from  the  resemblance  of 
its  thorns  and  fruit  to  the  military  caltrop— tri- 
bulus  terrestris.'"  (Robinson).      This  word  like 


i 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       183 


|e 


the  Hebrew  Hhuahh  seems  to  be  a  general  term 
for  thoriilike  weeds. 

Thistles  over  speak  to  us  of  the  curse  of  sin. 
Sin  brought  a  curse  upon  the  earth  and  into 
every  human  soul.  The  fruitful  and  beautiful 
Garden  of  Eden  was  changed  into  a  desert  of 
thorns  and  thistles;  the  human  soul  radiant  from 
communion  with  God  became  a  woeful  waste 
overgrown  with  sins.  We  see  the  blight  of  sin 
today  on  every  hand.  The  species  of  sin  are 
too  manifold  to  number,  and  any  one  may  blast 
a  life.  Look  at  strong  drink.  See  the  fashion- 
able, genial,  accomplished  and  much  admired 
young  man  of  twenty;  five.  Eyes  sparkle  with 
pleasure  and  gentle  hearts  quiver  at  his  ap- 
proach. But  with  his  boon  companions  he  takes 
his  "social  glass."  Look  at  him  again  at  forty^ 
five.  He  is  a  broken  down,  disheartened,  use- 
less wreck,  a  burden  and  a  shame  to  himself 
and  Ilia  family.  So  any  other  sin  nourished  is 
like  the  worm  at  the  heart  of  an  onion.  It  com- 
pletely ruins.  Some  years  whole  acres  of 
onions  are  thus  a  total  failure.  So  some  years 
sin  slays  more  victims  than  other  years. 

The  thistle  seeds  are  winged.  So  evil  just  as 
surely  as  truth  is  winged.  You  have  seen  the 
thistle  down  sailing  beautifully  through  the  air 


II 


lU       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

Each  downy  pinion  carries  a  seed  that  may 
drop  far  away  and  take  root.  Oh  that  sin 
might  be  robbed  of  its  beauty  and  its  flight! 
Oh,  that  sin  might  perish  with  him  that  makes 
it!  It  curses  the  originator  and  flies  far  and 
wide  bearing  destruction  on  its  wing.  How 
careful  we  should  be!  An  evil  word  may  fly 
far  and  do  much  harm.  An  evil  act  may  prove 
a  cancer  in  many  a  life.  Let  us  pray  and  act 
upon  the  prayer  "  Smt  a  watch  O  Lord,  before 
my  mouth ;  keep  the  door  of  my  lips."  ( Ps.  141 : 3 ) . 
Thistles  show  neglect.  Hosea  (10:  8)  speaks 
thus  of  Samaria,  "  The  thorn  and  the  thistle 
shall  come  upon  their  altars."  And  a  field  full 
of  thistles  and  nothing  else  surely  indicates  ne- 
glect. So  neglect  of  moral  and  spiritual  mat- 
ters is  soon  manifest.  "  Watch  therefore."  As 
thistles  injure  the  crop,  so  sins  lessen  the  fruit 
of  even  a  Godly  life.  "  Do  men  gather  grapes 
of  thorns  or  figs  of  thistles?"  Yet  some  sow 
their  "wild  oats"  and  thistles  and  forget  that 
they  must  reap  the  harvest  all  eternity. 


Thyine. 


^^Merchandise  of  Gold 
Rev.  18:  12. 


and  all  THYINE  trood." 


This  word  occurs  only  here  and  is  a  translit- 
eration of  the  Greek  thuinon.      "  The  thua  was 


11 ' 


^VHISPERlNO  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        185 


an  evergreen,  African  tree  with  aromatic  wood 
from  which  statues  and  costly  vessels  and  ceil- 
ings were  made.  Latin  citriiB,  citron  wood." 
(Robinson).  It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a 
native  of  Palestine. 

The  Vine. 


*^In  my  drei^'m,  behold,  a  VINE  ivas  before  me."     Qen.40 : 9. 

"Of  the  grapevines  (Vitis)  V.  vinipera  is  the 
species  best  known  and  longest  cultivated.  .  .  . 
Although  the  genus  Vitis  comprises,  according 
to  Bentham  and  Hooker,  more  than  two  hun- 
dred species,  mostly  natives  of  tropical  and  sub- 
tropical regions,  yet  less  than  half  a  dozen  spe- 
cies have  any  economic  value,  while  the  great 
interest  centres  in  four  or  five  only.  Vines  have 
woody,  climbing  stems,  with  alternate,  palmate- 
ly  lobed  or  in  some  cases  compound  (digitate) 
leaves,  provided  at  the  base  with  small  stipules. 
Opposite  some  of  these  leaves  springs  a  tendril, 
the  nature  of  which  is  obvious  from  the  numer- 
ous transitional  states  it  offers  between  the  ordi- 
nary form  of  tendril  and  the  inflorescence.  The 
flowers  are  small,  green,  and  fragrant,  and  are 
arranged  in  dense  clusters.  Each  has  a  small 
calyx  in  the  form  of  a  shallow  rim.  sometimes 
four^lobed  or  five  lobed,  or  toothcHl.     With  this 


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186       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


H|i 


is  an  equal  nnmV)er  of  petals,  which  in  the  true 
vines  cohere  by  their  tips  and  form  a  cap  or 
hood,  which  is  pushed  off  when  the  stamens  are 
ripe.  .  .  .  The  ovary  is  surmounted  by  a 
sessile  stigma  and  is  more  or  less  completely 
two  celled,  with  two  erect  ovules  in  each  cell. 
This  ripens  into  the  berry  and  seed.  .  .  . 
Practically  the  tendrils  assist  the  plant  in  its 
native  state  to  scramble  over  rocks  or  trees.  As 
in  the  case  of  similar  formations  generally,  they 
are  endowed  with  a  sensitiveness  of  touch  which 
enables  them  to  grasp  and  coil  vhemselves  round 
any  suitable  object  which  comes  in  their  way 
and  thus  to  support  the  plant.  The  tendrils  of 
the  Virginia  Creeper  (Vitis  or  Ampelopsis  hed- 
eracae  .  .  .  )are  branched,  each  branch  ter- 
minating in  a  little  sucker  like  expansion  by 
means  of  which  h  adheres  firmly  to  walls  or 
rocks.  This  is  especially  noticeable  in  the  Jap- " 
anese  species  now  so  conmionly  grown  against 
walls  under  the  name  of  Ampelopsis  Veitchii 
.  .  .  The  extremities  of  these  tendrils  turn 
away  from  the  light,  and  by  this  means  they  are 
enabled  to  enter  crevices  inside  which  they  ex- 
pand and  fix  themselves,  just  as  the  lewis  or  key, 
used  by  stone-masons,  is  fixed  into  blocks  of 
stone.     ...    It  is  interesting  to  note  that 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


187 


grape  stories  have  been  found  with  mummies  in 
Egyptian  tombs  of  not  later  age  than  3000  years. 
The  seeds  according  to  Engelmann,  have  the 
characteristics  of  V.  vinifera,  but  show  very 
slight  variations  from  the  type  of  seed  now 
prevalent.  .  .  .  The  vine  requires  a  high 
summer  temperature  and  a  prolonged  period  in 
which  to  ripen  its  fruit.  .  .  .  Apnrt  from 
their  economic  value,  vines  are  often  cultivated 
for  purely  ornamental  purposes,  owing  to  the  ele- 
gance of  their  foliage,  the  rich  coloration  they 
assume,  tlie  shade  they  afford,  and  their  hardi- 
hood."  (Brit.)  Currants  and  raisins  are  the 
fruit  of  different  varieties  of  the  grape-vine. 

The  vine  was  continually  before  the  Israelites 
after  they  entered  the  Holy  Land.  It  grew  up 
the  sides  of  their  houses.  It  clung  to  their 
stone  walls.  It  climbed  over  the  bare  rocks. 
It  ran  up  trees.  It  was  trained  over  arbors. 
Wherever  an  Israelite  looked  he  saw  the  beauti- 
ful vine.  In  its  season  it  was  ladeu  with  large 
clusters  of  luscious  grap<'8.  Many  like  Phara- 
oil's  butler  pressed  thein  into  the  cup  and 
refreshed  their  spirits. 

Such  a  fruit-bearer  doubtless  grew  in  Eden. 
**  Noah  began  to  be  a  husbandman  aiid  planted 
a  vineyard."   Gen.  0:20    His  folly  turned  the 


tiii 


188        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 


blessinjj;  into  a  curso.  The  delicious  grapes  are 
allowed  to  spoil  and  the  fermented  juice  is 
drunk.  Men  say  God  gave  us  the  vine.  It 
must  be  good.  As  well  say,  God  gave  us  eggs 
therefore  let  us  eat  sjwiU  eggs.  The  Tiiuk. 
whispers,  Use  me,  but  don't  abuse  me.  Oppor- 
tunities come.  Use  them.  Their  goodness  is 
soon  gone.  Wealth,  health,  fame  and  pleas- 
ure— use  thorn,  don't  abuse  them.  And  the 
vine  sighs  in  the  evening  breeze. 

It  is  the  Easter  full  moon.  From  the  Upper 
Room  in  Jerusalem  Jesus  and  His  disciples 
look  out  upon  the  vines.  The  Master  says,  "  I 
am  the  true  vino."  So  you  see,  says  Vitis,  I 
am  an  emblen  of  spiritual  truth.     Listen. 

Do  you  see  where  my  grnpes  grow?  They 
are  not  stuck  on  the  largo  branches.  Little 
twigs  bear  them.  Every  one  cannot  be  great 
but  every  oiio  ought  to  be  at  least  a  little  twig 
drawing  its  life  from  the  vino  and  showing  that 
life  in  the  clusttT.  "  Herein  is  my  Father 
glorified,  that  ye  bear  much  fruit.''  John  15:  8. 

Look  at  thoHo  dead  limbs.  They  are  no  good. 
My  ninker  will  burn  them.  So  all  that  do  not 
lire  in  Christ  are  dead  branches.  "  If  a  man 
abide  not  in  me,  he  is  cast  forth  as  a  branch, 
and  is  withered;  and  they  gather  them,  and  cast 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       189 


them  into  tho  firo,  and  tlicy  are  burned.''  John 
15:0.  Oh!  The  burnings  of  sin!  8in  within 
and  sin  without  unite  to  torture  its  victim. 
Think  of  the  wine  press  of  God's  wrath.  Rev. 
14:19. 

Adam  was  a  branch  of  the  true  vine.  Sin 
cut  off  the  branch  as  with  a  knife.  Adam  and 
his  race  lay  upon  tlie  f^jround  to  wither  and  to 
die.  The  brancli  may  live  n^ixin  if  jj:rnft(.>d  by 
divine  j^race  into  the  True  Vine.  Yonder  is  a 
Ljraft  })ut  it  is  dead.  Tiuit  i.s  the  f/fv/r/  church 
member.  Orthodoxy  nidij  be  (U'ad.  Perhaps 
the  wax  intended  for  a  help  canio  between  the 
pfraft  and  the  vine,  and  preventnd  lif(».  Forms 
and  ceremonies  are  ^ood;  ])ut  if  they  conic 
between  the  soul  and  God,  the  result  is  death. 
Have  the  rl^ht  creed,  use  proper  forms;  but  see 
that  there  is  life.     Grafting,'  is  all  of  ^nace. 

The  vine  must  be  <*ut,  wounded  before  the 
graft  can  bo  united  in  living  union.  The  vine 
is  bled.  Oh,  how  the  True  Vine  bled  for  us  in 
Gethsemane  and  on  tlie  Cross!!  Life  through 
death.     For  yon  the  Soil  of  Cmd  dii-d. 

The  pruning  ktiife  is  sharp.  IIow  cruel  it 
seems!  But  it  makes  the  vine//*////////.  There 
are  not  so  many  leaves,  n(>t  so  many  Immches, 
but  num;  fruit,    There  arc^  tlu>  "  long  rod,  the 


^ 


I 


190        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


short  rod,  and  the  spur  systems "  of  pruning. 
Tlie  Husbandman,  our  loving  Heavenly  Father 
knows  whi(;li  is  best.  Leave  yourself  in  His 
hands.  Be  willing  to  suffer  any  loss.  It  is 
better  to  l)e  pruned  for  better  service  than  to 
let  life  run  riot.  God  prunes  the  good,  but  cuts 
oflp  the  false.  Which  are  you?  Can  you  say 
*  Nearer  my  God  to  Thee,  Nearer  to  Thee  e'en 
though  it  be  a  cross  that  raiseth  me." 

If  a  branch  is  half  broken  off  it  gets  less  sap, 
gives  less  fruit.  That  is  the  way  with  Chris- 
tians. Some  have  a  very  small  connection  with 
the  vine.  The  channels  of  prayer  are  almost 
choked  up  with  worldly  things.  Little  prayer; 
little  life;  little  fruit.  Keep  your  hearts  always 
open  towards  God.  He  will  fill  your  souls  with 
life. 

Yonder  is  a  branch  growing  along  the  ground. 
The  weeds  cover  il  and  the  earth  is  cold.  The 
sun  is  not  seen  nor  felt.  You  can  see  many 
like  that  in  the  church — chilled  by  the  world, 
shaded  by  the  we(?ds  of  evil  habits,  clinging  to 
the  earth.  The  souls  of  men  are  trailing  vines, 
with  "  touchy  "  tendrils.  They  need  support. 
8ome  depend  on  the  wood  of  earthly  things, 
which  supports  for  a  time  but  when  the  need  is 
greatest  giv(»s  way.    \Vt^  need  something   that 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       191 


|any 
)rld, 

\r    to 

lues, 
liort. 

that 


outlasts  death  and  the  Judgment.  Our  tendrils 
can  cling  to  the  Rock  of  Ages  that  will  never 
give  way.  "  Put  not  your  trust  in  princes," — 
even.    Trust  Christ. 

And  so  many  things  try  to  destroy  us.  There 
is  the  Oidium.  It  looks  like  white  powder  but 
it  is  a  living  fungus,  a  destroyer  of  life.  So 
many  things  grow  upon  the  soul.  Some  things 
that  seem  white,  harmless  to  a  man's  eyes,  take 
away  his  life.  Beware  of  worldly  parasites. 
'* Perouospcra  riticola-''  appears  in  spots,  "pale 
green  and  irregular."'  Have  you  no  spots  of 
evil?  James  says  *'  True  religion  ...  is 
.  .  .  to  keep  himself  luisjwttcd  from  the 
world."  (Jas.  1:  27).  Shun  irregularities. 
"  Physaloi^prra  Bidicellii"'  is  the  right  name 
for  the  "black  rot"  of  the  vine.  This  attacks 
the  grapes  when  halfgroivu.  Some  Christians 
think  when  they  get  a  good  start  in  the  spirit- 
ual life  they  are  all  right.  The  devil  is  watch- 
ing for  their  confidence  in  self.  The  fruit 
shrivels  up  and  becomes  worthless.  "Be  not 
tceor?/ in  welldoing  .  .  .'  "Ho  thatendur- 
eth  to  the  end  the  same  shall  be  saved."  These 
withered  grapes  must  be  burnt  or  the  fungus 
will  spread  to  others.  Do  you  now  see  why  the 
Cauaauitos  were  to  be  completely  destroyed? 


li 


193       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE 

If  a  "fungus"  soul  should  get  to  heaven,  the 
fungus  of  sin  might  spread.  Hence  the  com- 
mand "  Gather  and  burn  them."  "  Dematophi- 
on  necatrix  "  attacks  the  roots.  So  infidelity,  a 
fungus  of  Hell,  attacks  the  root  of  faith. 

Health  protects  from  disease.  Abide  in  the 
Vine.  Let  love,  the  life-blood,  flow  unhin- 
dered into  your  soul  and  out  into  clusters  of 
fruit.  Union,  vital  union  with  Christ  alone 
can  save.  "Without  me,  ye  can  do  nothing." 
This  is  the  secret  of  true  success  in  life,  of  true 
joy;  of  life  eternal  —  union  with  Jesus,  the  Son 
of  God.  Let  your  grapes  be  neither  few  nor 
sour,  but  large  and  luscious,  like  clusters  of 
Eschol  [ExitVitis.] 

Wheat. 

"So  she  kept  fast  by  the  maidens  of  )iunz  (u  if  lean  unto  the 
end  of  barley  harvest  and  of  WHEAT  harvest^* 

Ruth  2:  23.' 

"  Simon,  Simon,  behold,  Satan  asked  to  have  you^  that  he 
might  sift  you  as  WHEAT."  Luke  22:  31. 

The  references  to  wheat  in  the  Bible  are  very 
interesting.  For  Pharaoh's  dream  see  Gen.  41 : 
22;  Gideon  threshed  wheat  in  his  wine^press 
(Judges  G:  11);  it  was  in  wheat  harvest  that 
Samson  tied  firebrands  to  300  foxes  (Judges  15: 
1-5);  in  wheat  harvest  Kuth  gleaned  in  the 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OP  PALESTINE       193 


of 


very 
41: 
press 
that 
b15: 
thQ 


field  of  Boaz  (Ruth  2:  23);  and  Jesus  speaks  of 
it  in  the  parable  of  the  tares  (Matt.  13;  25): 
and  warns  Peter  under  the  simile  of  Luke  22: 31. 
The  Hebrew  word  for  wheat  (Hhittah)  de- 
notes something  red.  "Wheat  (triticum)  the 
most  important  and  most  generally  diffused  of 
cereal  grasses,  is  an  annual  plant,  with  hollow, 
erect,  knotted  stems,  and  produces  in  addition 
to  the  direct  developments  from  the  seedling 
plant  secondary  roots  and  secondary  shouts 
(tillers)  from  the  base.  Its  leaves  have  each  a 
long  sheath  encircling  the  stem.  .  .  .  The 
ripe  frait  or  grain,  sometimes  called  the  berry 
.  .  .  is  oblong  or  ovoid,  with  a  longitudinal 
furrow  on  one  side.  .  .  .  Two  or  three  lay- 
ers of  cells  inside  the  epidermis  constitute  the 
tissue  of  the  ovary  and  overlie  somewhat  simi- 
lar layers  which  form  the  coats  of  the  seed. 
Within  these  last  is  a  layer  of  square  cells  larger 
and  more  regular  in  form  than  those  on  each 
side;  these  contain  the  gluten  or  nitrogenous 
matter,  upon  which  so  much  of  the  nutritive 
value  of  the  seed  depends.  This  thin  layer  of 
gluten  cells  contains  th«'  albumen  or  perisperni 
which  constitutes  the  great  mass  of  the  seed, 
being  coniposeil  of  naiuerous  cells  of  irregular 
form  and  size  filled  with  starch  grains.    These 


194       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  i'ALEBTINi: 


layers  of  cells  become  more  or  less  dry  and 
inseparable  one  from  another,  forming  the  sub- 
stance known  as  bran.  At  the  lower  end  of  the 
albumen,  and  placed  obliquely,  is  the  minute 
embryo  plant  which  derives  its  nourishment  in 
the  first  instance  from  the  albumen;  this  is 
destined  to  form  the  future  plant."  (Brit.)  The 
enemies  of  the  wheat  are  of  three  classes, 
insects,  fungus,  and  mildew.  Some  may  be 
glad  to  hear  that  among  these  insects  is  their 
old  friend,  "Daddy  Long-legs,"  "Tipuia  olera- 


?> 


ceae. 

We  thus  see  that  the  ^\uen,  the  most  nutri- 
tive part  of  the  wheat,  lies  next  the  hull  or 
perisperm  and  is  thrown  away  in  the  bran. 
The  interior  of  the  grain  from  which  the  jine 
flour  is  made  is  nearly  all  starch.  This  is  why 
graham  flour  (the  unbolted  flour  of  the  entire 
grain)  is  so  much  more  nutritious  than  white 
flour.  The  finer  the  flour  the  less  nutriment  it 
contains  and  the  more  starch;  yet  some  ignor- 
antly  think  that  brown  bread  is  poor  fare  and 
they  pity  those  who  eat  much  of  it.  As  starchy 
matter  is  hard  to  digest,  graham  bread,  espe- 
cially if  light  with  nothing  in  it  to  raise  it,  is 
much  to  be  preferred  to  white  bread.  Many 
feed  the  best  part  of  the  wheat  (the  bran)  to 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       135 


their  cows,  and  eat  the  starchy  or  heat-produc- 
ing part  (white  flour)  themselves  in  the  heat  o^^ 
summer.  The  entire  wheat  is  best  suited  of  all 
known  grains  to  build  up  and  maintain  the 
human  system.  Its  bread  is  thus  a  fitting  sym- 
bol of  the  Bread  of  Life.  All  the  nutriment 
the  soul  needs  is  found  in  this.  Jesus  came 
into  the  world  to  i)rovide  it  for  all  that  will 
receive  it.  "Jesus  therefore  said  unto  them, 
Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you.  It  was  not  Moses 
that  gave  you  the  bread  out  of  heaven;  but  my 
Father  givetli  you  the  true  bread  out  of  heaven. 
For  the  bread  of  God  is  that  which  cometh 
down  out  of  heaven,  and  giveth  life  unto  the 
world."  (John  6:  32,  33.) 

Wheat  is  thus  also  an  illustration  of  man's 
abuse  of  God's  good  gifts.  He  robs  the  wheat 
of  the  gluten  in  the  bran  and  eats  the  heat  and 
fat  producing  part  which  it  is  difficult  to  digest. 
Doubtless  one  cause  of  so  much  weakness  and 
sickness  is  the  use  of  very  fine  flour,  especially 
in  cakes  and  pastry.  The  hun  .an  system  requires 
all  the  gluten  of  the  wheat,  ood  gives  us  pure 
air  and  light,  yet  many  shut  both  out  of  their 
homes,  particularly  their  bed  rooms  where  they 
spend  over  one  third  of  their  lives.  Others 
defile   the   air   with   tobacco,     BrewSries   and 


lUC        WHISPEKING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


(liBtilleries,  with  those  who  patronize  them 
should  not  be  allowed  within  a  thousand  miles 
of  any  home.  God  gives  man  hides  to  clothe 
himself;  and  some  (not  the  Chinese  either)  use 
them  to  cramp  and  cripple  their  feet.  The 
woven  fabrics  of  use  and  beauty  are  made  the 
instruments  of  crushing  the  delicate  human 
form  out  of  shape  and  out  of  health.  God  has 
given  us  the  Bible;  yet  men  use  the  least  in- 
structive parts  and  neglect  the  "  gluten  "  of  the 
Word.  To  change  the  figure,  they  lay  aside  the 
flesh  of  the  iish  and  try  to  eat  the  bones.  With 
some  all  the  study  of  the  Bible  consists  in  try- 
ing to  solve  its  knotty  problems  and  its  mysteries 
They  neglect  their  plain  duty  to  God  and  to 
man.  The  church  ought  to  be  a  very  Bethel; 
but  many  go  to  hear  its  music  or  its  eloquence, 
or  its  beautiful  ritual,  or  (alas,  that  it  has  to  be 
said)  to  show  their  nice  attire.  Whereas  we 
ought  to  look  upon  the  church  as  built  by  God 
about  a  living  spring.  We  ought  to  go  to  talk 
with  Jesus  and  draw  with  joy  water  out  of  this 
well  of  Salvation.  What  a  boon  is  prayer! 
Yet  many  are  satisfied  with  the  form,  the 
husks;  and,  throwing  away  the  bread  of  life,  let 
their  souls  starve.  So  many  too  cannot  relish 
the  plain  bread  of  life;  they  must  have  the 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       197 


pastry  fiiul  tliecnkes  of  man's  eloquence  and  wit. 
It  is  no  wonder  tlwit  there  is  so  much  spiritual 
dyspepsia,  weakness,  and  disorders.  "  For  the 
time  will  come  when  they  will  not  endure  the 
sound  doctrine;  but,  having  itching  ears,  will 
heap  to  themselves  teachers  after  their  own 
lusts;  and  will  turn  away  their  ears  from  the 
truth,  and  turn  aside  unto  fables."  (2  Tim.  4:  .*J) 
Waste  is  sinful.  Christ  says,  "  Gather  up  the 
fragments."  Don't  throw  away  the  bran.  By 
browning  bran  in  the  oven  with  a  litth'  fine 
flour  you  can  make  excellent  and  wholesome 
cotfee.  Mocha  coffee  is  not  only  expensive  but 
deleterious,  at  least  to  many.  I  fancy  some 
smile  about  the  expense.  "  We  can  atford  it." 
Yes.  Yoii  can  afford  it  but  can  the  Cause  of 
Christ?  How  much  do  you  spend  for  coffee 
during  a  year  for  the  whole  family?  Would 
not  that  be  a  nice  addition  to  what  you  now 
give  to  Foreign  Missions?  A  tasty  and  nutri- 
tious as  well  as  medicinal  jelly  can  also  be  made 
from  the  bran.  If  the  waste  and  extravagance 
of  Christians  were  stoppetl,  and  the  value  of 
them  ijut  into  the  Exchequer  of  the  Lord,  the 
world  would  open  its  eyes.  Also  how  many 
opportunities  of  usefulness  are  wasted,  like  the 
bran  of  the   wheat!    Words   of   comfort   and 


198        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


ii 


encourapjement  and  honost  praise  are  often  pure 
"gluten."  The  applications  of  sermons  often 
are  thrown  away,  or  passed  over  to  others. 
The  literary  "  starch  "  is  enjoyed. 

Wheat  must  be  winnowed  to  separate  the 
chaflp.  Satan  winnowed  Peter  and  found  con- 
siderable "  chaff."  How  would  we  stand  win- 
nowing? How  many  of  our  motives  are  '•  No  1. 
hard  "  wheat?  What  about  our  promises  and 
our  vows?  Are  our  lives  tilled  out  "plump" 
with  kind  and  loving  acts  and  words,  or  are 
they  shriveled  and  light? 

The  wheat  is  bronght  three  times  a  day 
Upon  our  tables  in  some  form 
And  every  time  in  humble  way 
It  anks  our  ears  as  well  as  mouth, 

Why  cast  away  the  brnn,  pray  why? 
And  give  it  to  your  cow  or  pig? 
The  rest  you  spoil  in  cake  or  pie: 
And  then  are  sick,  you  don't  know  how. 

Take  care  you  do  not  thus  abuse  • 

The  other  gifts  from  God  to  you, — 
Your  time,  your  money,  and  the  news 
Of  blood=bought  wisdom  for  your  friends. 

And  if  you  are  a  grain  of  wheat 
Be  plump  and  round,  not  wrinkled  up. 
Have  no  presumption,  no  conceit; 
Be  full  of  grace  and  love  divine. 

And  when  the  devil  winnows  you 
The  chaflP  may  fly,  but  you'll  remain 
Unmoved,  your  Master's  will  to  do 
Until  eternal  rest  is  yours. 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE        199 


Willow. 


^' He  took  alao  nf  thp  seed  of  the  land,  and  planted  it  in  n 
fruitful  soil;  he  placed  it  beside  mnmj  waters:  he  set  it 
as  a  WILLOW  tree."'  Ezek.  i7;.5. 

'•  Upon  the  WILLOWS  in  the  midst  therof  we  hanged  up 
our  /lar^js."  Ps.  137 :  2. 

"Willow  (salix)  a  very  well  marked  pjenus  of 
plants  constituting,  with  the  Poplar  (Popnlus), 
the  order  Salicaceae.  Willows  are  trees  or 
shrubs,  varying  in  stature  from  a  few  inches  to 
one  hundred  feet,  and  occurring  most  abundant- 
ly in  cold  or  temperate  climates  in  both  hemi- 
spheres and  generally  in  moist  situations.  .  . 
The  flowers  are  borne  in  catkins  or  amenta, 
which  are  on  one  tree  male  only,  on  another 
female.  .  .  .  Few  genera  have  greater 
claims  to  notice  from  an  economic  point  of  view. 
As  timber  trees  many  of  the  species  are  valua- 
ble for  their  rapidity  of  growth  and  for  the 
production  of  light  durable  wood,  serviceable  for 
many  purposes.  .  .  .  Certain  sorts  of  wil- 
lows are  largely  used  for  basket-making  and 
wicker-work.  The  species  employed  for  this 
purpose  are  mostly  of  shrubby  habit  and  are 
known  under  the  collective  name  of  osiers. 
.  .  .  As  ornamental  trees  some  willows  also 
take  a  high  rank.    The  white  willow  is  a  great 


'\'i 


200 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


favorite,  while  the  drooping  habit  of  the  weep- 
ing willow  renders  it  very  attractive."  (Brit.) 

The  willow  is  a  lover  of  water.  Its  Hebrew 
name  ( Jsaplitsaphab )  refers  to  its  habit  of  grow- 
ing in  a  place  overflowuuj  with  water.  In  this 
respect  it  is  like  the  Psalmist — "As  the  hart 
panteth  after  the  water  brooks,  so  panteth  my 
soul  after  Thee,  O  God."  (Ps.  42:  1.) 
Have  wc  this  soul  thirst  for  the  living  waters? 

How  yielding  is  the  willow!  We  ought  to  be 
yielding:  in  matters  nonessential.  (See  myrtle.) 
In  matters  of  duty  we  should  not  be  a  willow. 
How  many  are  willows  in  the  presence  of  evil. 
Look  at  the  young  man  as  he  is  tempted  by  his 
companions  to  take  a  social  glass.  He  knows  it 
is  wrong.  He  knows  his  mother's  eyes  are  upon 
him  and  that  it  will  break  her  heart,  yet  he 
yields  and  is  gradually  dragged  down  into  the 
mire.  It  is  just  so  in  the  case  of  tobacco; 
though  it  is  a  smaller  evil.  Take  any  one  of 
the  Ten  Commandments.  To  yield  in  these 
things  is  criminal,  yet  so  often  the  back=bone- 
less  man  or  woman  yields  like  the  willow.  One 
trembles  for  those  who  are  easily  led  by  others. 
You  can  wind  some  people  "  round  your  finger, 
and  evil-minded  companions  find  them  a  ready 
tool  in  their  hands.    This  yielding  is  akin  to 


'I  i 
I  I 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


201 


cowardice.     Many  cannot  say  no,  because  they 
fear  the  sneer  of  their  companions 

'•Yielil  not  to  temptatiou, 
For  yidding  is  sin. 
Each  victory  will  help  you 
Some  other  to  win; 
Fight  manfully  onward, 
Dark  passions  subdue, 
Look  ever  to  Jesus, 
He'll  carry  you  through. 

"Shun  evil  companions 
Bad  language  disdain, 
God'8  name  hold  in  reverence, 
Nor  take  it  in  vain; 

Be  thoughtful  and  earnest, 
Kind»hearted  and  true; 
Look  ever  to  Jesus, 
He'll  carry  you  tlirough. 

"To  him  that  o'ercometh 
God  giveth  a  crown; 
Through  faith  wo  shall  conqner, 
Though  often  cast  down: 
He  who  is  our  Saviour  • 

Oar  strength  will  renew, 
Look  ever  to  Jesus, 
He'll  carry  you  through." 

H«  K-  !'• 

Wormwood. 

"  Therrfore  thm  sai(h  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  God  of  Israel, 

Hi'hnld,  I  will  feed  them,  even  this  people,  wi'h  IVOHM- 

mWD,   and  give  them   tvater  of  ,,all  to  drink.   Jer 
9:1.-,. 

The  Jews  call  this  phint,  f/m  accursed  (Laa- 


202       WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


nah);  the  Greeks  the  undrinkablc  (apsinthos.) 
It  was  regarded  by  both  as  poison. 

"  Wormwood,  artemisia  Absinthium,  a  hardy, 
native  composite  perennial,  which  will  grow  in 
any  soil,  but  is  most  aromatic  on  those  which 
are  dry  and  poor."     (Brit.) 

The  Southernwood,  or  "  old  man,"  is  of  this 
genus,  artemisia.  All  the  species  are  cliarac- 
torized  by  their  extreme  bitterness. 

Wormwood  is  wonderfully  adapted  to  poor 
soil.  Is  it  not  often  the  drought  of  disappoint- 
ment or  the  poor  soil  of  adversity  that  makes  the 
Christian  life  most  aromatic?  It  is  in  overcom- 
ing diflficulties  that  we  become  strong.  One 
cannot  be  a  good  swimmer  unless  he  gets  into 
the  water;  and  hard= fought  battles  make  the 
soldier.  Those  in  hard  circumstances  ought  to 
thank  God  for  the  power  to  live  in  spite  of 
them.  It  is  by  doing  manly  things  we  show 
ourselves  to  be  mm.  Women  seem  even  super- 
ior to  men  in  braving  cheerfully  the  inevitable 
and  in  conquering. 

There  is  bitterness  in  all  the  Genus  Artem- 
isia. There  is  bitterness  in  many  a  life  that 
nothing  on  earth  can  sweeten.  Sugar  in  their 
mouths  turns  to  gall.  Pleasures  are  studded 
with   thorns.     Like    Job    when    covered   with 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE       203 

boils  they  cannot  rest.  The  secret  lies  hidden 
in  the  inmost  recesses  of  their  being.  The 
Lord  showed  Moses  how  to  sweeten  the  wat- 
ers of  Marah,  which  were  bitter.  He  shows  u?? 
in  the  Bible  how  to  sweeten  the  hidden  springs 
of  our  souls.  When  a  per.son  feels  that  he  is  a 
sinner,  under  the  curse  of  a  broken  law,  yet  is 
not  willing  to  give  up  his  sins,  his  life  becomes 
wormwood.  The  tree  of  Life  and  it  alone  can 
make  it  sweet.  Comj)lete  submission  to  God 
and  reliance  upon  the  merits  of  Christ  brings 
sweetness  divine  into  the  bitterest  soul. 

Conclusion. 


bem- 
Ithat 
their 
Ided 
Iwith 


"Bh<  grow  in  grace  and  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ.     'J  Pet.  ;i :  IS. 

The  Christian  religion  is  not  a  form  of  wor- 
ship, nor  is  it  a  creed.  It  is  a  life,  guided  by  a 
creed,  nourished  through  forms.  External 
helps  are,  as  it  were,  the  vessels  in  which  the 
milk  and  meat  are  carried  to  the  soul;  yet 
some  try  to  live  on  the  vessels.  The  child  of 
God  is  a  living  soul.  That  is  wliy  Christ 
points  to  so  many  things  growing  around  us  in 
nature,  that  we  may  learn  about  our  own  growth. 
And  Peter  exhorts  to  growth. 

What  is  the  diffennice  between  a  living  seed 


201        WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


I 


and  a  jjjrain  of  sand?  There  is  the  same  ditt'er- 
ence  between  the  Christian  and  the  unregener- 
ate  soul.  Oh,  wondrous  principle!  Who  can 
understand  life?  "The  wind  bloweth  where  it 
listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  voice  thereof,  but 
knowest  not  whence  it  cometh,  and  whither  it 
goetli:  so  is  every  one  that  is  born  of  the 
spirit."  John  3:  8.  "He  that  hath  the  Son 
hath  the  life;  he  that  hi.tli  not  the  Son  of  God 
hath  not  the  life."  I  John  5: 12.  "  Ye  must  be 
born  anew."     John  3:  7. 

The  germ  of  life  needs  a  soiljjveparcd.  For- 
getting this  necessity  we  groan  under  the 
plough-share  of  repentance  and  the  harrow  of 
confessi(jn.  We  murmur  at  the  frosts  of  sor- 
row; but  the  Holy  Spirit  at  length  comes  with 
vernal  showers  and  the  Sun  of  Righteousness 
warms  the  heart  to  receive  the  seed  of  the  King- 
dom. 

Man  cannot  make  his  soul  grow  any  more 
than  ho  can  his  body  or  a  grain  of  wheat. 
Growth  is  natural  to  life.  All  that  is  required 
of  man  is  to  give  the  life  a  fair  chance  to  grow 
and  to  nourish  it.  All  the  praise  for  growth  is 
due  to  the  Creator  of  life. 

Take  wheat  as  a  representative  j)lMnt.  Be- 
hold the  wheat  luyw  it  yroirs. 


WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


205 


Wheat    needs  rahi.    So  the  soul  must  be 

moistened  with  the  dews  of  heaven,  watered  by 

the  refreshing  showers  of  the  Holy  Spirit.    His 

appointed  channels  of  blessing  are  the    Word 

and  Ordinances.    The   Sabbaths  are  fifty  two 

separate  flowing  springs  of  the  water  of  life 

every  year.    The  Bible  is  full  of  them.  Currents 

of  Electricity,  such  as  pass  from  cloud  to  cloud 

or  to  the  earth  in  a  thunder  storm,  cool  the  air 

and  condense  the  moisture  into  the  drops  of 

rain.    The  promises  of  God's  Word  are,  so  to 

speak,  electric  buttons  which  when  pressed  by 

the  hand  of  faith  send  the  electric  currents  to 

the  sky  to  condense  the  love  of  God  in  showers 

upon  the  soul. 

"  Lord  I  hear  of  showers  of  blessing 
Thou  art  scattering  full  and  free, 
Showers  the  thirsty  laud  refreshing, 
Let  some  drops  now  fall  on  me." 

The  wheat  needs  snnlifjht.  If  you  were  to 
sow  wheat  in  your  cellars  would  you  expect  a 
good  crop?  Yet  many  sow  the  seed  of  the 
kingdom  in  the  cellar  of  their  hearts.  Over  it 
are  the  works  of  their  hands  and  the  treasures 
of  earth.  Is  it  strange  that  so  many  souls  are 
sickly?  many  sleep?  A  little  girl  of  a  dark 
alley  carried  her  Geranium  pot  to  the  roof  of  the 


>  *  •  1  • 


206      WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


house  and  kept  moving  it  ko  that  it  was  always 
in  the  sun;  and  she  won  the  prize  at  a  "fair,"' 
So  every  Christian  should  in  faith  bear  his  soul 
above  the  shadow  of  earth  and  rejoice  contin- 
ually in  the  light  of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 
He  will  gain  the  prize  of  Eternal  Life. 

Wheat  grows  by  vorking.  It  must  assimilate 
the  nutriment  of  the  soil  and  of  the  air.  The 
man  that  works  has  strength.  An  arm  kept  in 
a  sling  by  one's  side  becomes  useless.  A  Chris- 
tian that  does  nothing  for  Christ  becomes  sleepy 
and  helpless.  A  busy  life  is  one  suited  to  spir- 
itual growth.  Every  little,  daily  duty  done  iccll 
and  with  God's  glory  in  view  is  something  done 
for  Christ.  Doing  the  will  of  God  is  not  sit- 
ting with  folded  hands  thinking  nice  thoughts. 
Speak  for  Christ  and  you  will  gain  power  to 
speak.  Do  some  religious  work  for  Him  and 
you  will  have  more  strength  for  the  next 
efPort. 

Wheat  grows  gradualhj.  You  cannot  see  it 
growing,  but  you  can  see  it  has  grown  in  the 
last  few  days.  It  takes  our  bodies  nearly  twenty 
years  to  grow  to  maturity.  You  cannot  expect 
to  be  perfect  at  once  nor  even  see  your  soul's 
growing;  but  if  you  cannot  see  growth  in  the 
laBt  few  mouths,  something  radical   is  wrong. 


AVHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 


207 


'8 

ne 


Wheat  grows  silcnUij.  Some  seem  to  think 
that  a  growing  Christian  must  be  a  noisy  Chris- 
tian ;  and  some  expend  all  their  strength  in  talk 
and  have  none  left  for  living  for  Christ.  Dead 
trees  if  struck  make  the  most  noise,  especially 
if  hollow.  Empty  heads  are  the  loudest  often; 
and  empty  souls  echo  and  re-echo.  The  grow- 
ing wheat  is  almost  noiseless,  but  the  dry,  dead 
straw  rattles.  The  mountain  torrent  foaming 
against  rocks  and  ice  contrasts  unfavorably  for 
usefulness  with  the  quiet  meadow  brook.  Even 
the  cows  know  which  to  choose.  Growing  in 
grace  does  not  mean  shoviiiuj  for  Christ,  but 
living  for  Him.  This  life  will  also  find  suitable 
expression  in  words.  The  growing  Christian 
has  an  influence  that  is  felt  rather  than  heard. 

Thus  the  soul  is  not  like  a  cup  to  be  filled 
with  divine  grace  but  a  living  thing,  to  become 
perfect  through  groivih.  We  are  to  "  work  out 
our  own  salvation"'  by  keeping  down  the  weeds 
of  evil,  by  nourishing  the  good  grain,  and  by 
using  what  we  have. 

The  growth  around  us  in  the  Natural  World 
throws  much  light  upon  the  development  of  the 
soul  '*  while  in  the  body  pent;"  bo  the  deatli  of 
the  wheat  in  order  to  live  gives  us  a  glimpse 
into  til©  mystoriea  cf  the  Resurrection.    "  But 


208      WHISPERING  LEAVES  OF  PALESTINE 

some  one  will  say,  How  are  the  dead  raised? 
And  with  what  manner  of  body  do  they  come? 
Thou  foolish  one,  that  which  thou  thyself  sow- 
est  is  not  (quickened,  except  it  die:  and  that 
which  thou  sowest,  thou  sowest  not  the  body 
that  shall  be,  but  a  bare  grain,  it  may  chance  of 
wheat,  or  of  some  other  kind;  but  God  giveth  it 
a  body  even  as  it  pleased  Him,  and  to  each  seed 
a  body  of  its  own.  All  flesh  is  not  the  same 
flesh :  but  there  is  one  flesh  of  men,  and  another 
flesh  of  beasts,  and  ".nother  flesh  of  birds,  and 
another  of  fishes.  There  are  also  celestial  bod- 
ies, and  bodies  terrestrial:  but  the  glory  of  the 
celestial  is  one,  and  the  glory  of  the  terrestrial 
is  another.  There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun,  and 
another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  another  glory  of 
the  stars;  for  one  star  differeth  from  another 
star  in  glory.  So  also  is  the  resuiTection  of  the 
dead.  It  is  sown  in  corruption;  it  is  raised  in 
incorruption:  it  is  sown  in  dishonour:  it  ia 
raised  in  glory:  it  is  sown  in  weakness;  it  is 
raised  in  power:  it  is  sown  a  natural  body;  it  is 
raised  a  spiritual  body."     I  Cor.  15:  35-44. 


ed? 

ne? 

ow- 

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it  is 

it  is 


